He’s the only one living, today. That was how Marilyn Sullivan described her husband Frank Sullivan of Lihu‘e who will be one of six former Boston Red Sox players who will be inducted into the Class of 2008 for the
He’s the only one living, today.
That was how Marilyn Sullivan described her husband Frank Sullivan of Lihu‘e who will be one of six former Boston Red Sox players who will be inducted into the Class of 2008 for the Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame.
That announcement was made on Monday in a Boston Red Sox press release.
Sullivan is one of the Boston Red Sox players depicted in “The Rookie,” a painting by Norman Rockwell which ended up being a cover for the Saturday Evening Post magazine.
“That’s me over there,” Frank said, pointing to the player wearing No. 8. “The tall guy standing in the center is Ted Williams, but he wasn’t there so they used my body and painted his head in.”
That was one of the more memorable moments for Frank as he recollected that the rookie was some local guy named Sherman Safford. Others in the painting done at Stockbridge, Mass. include Sammy White, Jackie Jensen and Billy Goodman.
“It was supposed to be the clubhouse at the Red Sox Sarasota, Fla., training facility,” Frank said.
Joining Frank, a right-handed pitcher, in the Hall of Fame will be outfielder Mike Greenwell, left-handed pitcher Bill Lee, and first baseman Mo Vaughn who played for the organization from the post-World War II era.
Right-handed pitcher Wes Ferrell and shortstop Everett Scott were selected from the early years of the franchise, the release states.
Additionally, two non-uniformed individuals, George Digby, a longtime scout for the organization, and the late Edward Kenny, Sr., a club executive for more than 40 years, will make up the Class of 2008.
The induction dinner for the honorees will take place on Nov. 7 at the Marriott Copley Hotel, and Frank and Marilyn are excited about the prospect of being flown back to Boston for the occasion.
“When Frank got the call, he was in awe,” Marilyn said. “He couldn’t believe it. He is still in awe, but says it’s a great honor.”
A committee comprised of Red Sox executives, broadcasters, media members and representatives of the New England Sports Museum and BoSox club were tasked with assembling this year’s class of inductees.
Additionally, the committee selected its seventh Most Memorable Moment for Hall of Fame recognition — Ted Williams’ home run in his final major league at-bat on Sept. 28, 1960 versus the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park.
The Class of 2008 represents the seventh class of inductees selected since the Red Sox Hall of Fame was founded in 1995. Members have been added every other year starting in 2000.
When the induction ceremony takes place in November, the number of Red Sox Hall of Famers will total 52.
Sullivan, who spent time developing the golf courses at both the Kaua‘i Lagoons and later, the Puakea Golf Course, posted a 90-80 record in 252 games/201 starts with the Red Sox from 1953 to 1960. He also won 13 or more games in five straight seasons from 1954 to 1958 with a career-high 18 victories and a 2.91 ERA in 1955.
Sullivan was also an American League All-Star in 1955 and 1956.
Overall, Sullivan won 97 games in an 11-year major league career.
“I needed a job,” Frank said of his start into the golf industry. “We came here in 1964 and started working for Jack Harter.”
Two years later, he started working with Bill Schwallie at the Kaua‘i Surf golf course where he spent the next 27 years, rising from a cashier to where he oversaw the operation.
“I was 27 years at the Surf before it got sold,” Frank said. “Somehow, I was able to stay on with Hemmeter for two years, and then the Westin. When the course got sold to Shinwa, I was still there.”
It was at that point that Grove Farm hired him to develop the Puakea Golf Course with Robin Nelson, a project which was temporarily halted when Hurricane ‘Iniki wrought its destruction over the island.
“It’s unbelievable,” Frank said. “Starting from working the cash register to running the operations, and finally, into building golf courses. And, everything is within two miles of where we live. There were a lot of challenges, but it was fun to do.”
Frank and Marilyn continue to live in the home they built on their arrival to Kaua‘i.
“There’s been some good baseball here,” Frank said. “I used to go to a couple of games when the pro league (Hawai‘i Winter League baseball) had games here. It was good baseball.”
But Sullivan lamented the fact that Kaua‘i has no baseball facility with lights.
“You need a ball park with lights,” Frank said. “Especially here on Kaua‘i where everyone is working two jobs. They can’t get off during the day to enjoy the game.”
Frank believes that a baseball park with lights should be built out on the “drier” side of the island where the weather will help draw better crowds while helping the economy on the Westside.
Recently retired, Frank said he is in the final stages of publishing a book of his memoirs and stories about the time he spent in baseball.
Gaylord Wilcox will be publishing the book, and Frank expects it will be out some time in the fall.
“Hopefully, people will like it,” Frank said in his modest manner. “It was a lot of fun.”
Frank Sullivan
Born: Jan. 23, 1930
Pro baseball career:Boston Red Sox (1953-1960)
Philadelphia
Phillies (1961-1962)
Minnesota Twins (1962-1963)
Position: Right-handed pitcher
Batted: Right
Stats: 97-100; 3.60 ERA; 959 strikeouts
Achievements: Voted to the American League All-Star team 1955, 1956; Voted No. 73 of the Boston Red Sox’s Top 100 players as named by the Red Sox Bloggers group.
