Lenox Dedicates Baseball Field To Former Star
 Old newspaper clippings and photos were available for friends and family to relive Robert Sullivan's glory days. |
The baseball field at the newly renovated Tillotson Park was dedicated Saturday to the man who declined a chance of playing professional baseball to return home and work the family farm.
Sullivan led the Lenox High School Millionaires to a championship in 1946 and then played in the Cincinnati Reds' minor league teams before giving up the sport he loved.
"We were so privileged to be good enough to be a teammate of Bob's," Tom Bosworth, Sullivan's friend and 1946 teammate, said. "He was a baseball prodigy."
Over the last few years, the park has received hundreds of thousands of dollars of upgrades and when it was finally completed, it was an easy decision to name it after Sullivan, Lenox Community Center Director Kim Graham said. Sullivan grew up across the street from the park and is arguably the greatest player the county has had.
"I just wish he was here for it. Baseball was his life," Sullivan's granddaughter Kelly Sullivan said.
Boswell, Kelly Sullivan, Robert's son Michael Sullivan and his grandson Michael Sullivan Jr. unveiled the banner that proudly dedicated the field to a large crowd . Michael Sullivan threw out the first pitch of the Lenox-versus-St. Joseph junior varsity game to family friend Tristian Vaber.
 Robert Sullivan's son Michael Sullivan threw out the first pitch at the newly-named Bob Sullivan Memorial Field. |
The dedication was a "clear" decision for the Community Center board in February, Graham said. The park added additional parking, basketball courts and upgrades to become more family oriented, she said.
"This park is long overdue for Lenox Dale," Graham said. "It's no longer just a baseball field. It's a family park."
While the dedication was originally planned for opening day, it had to be rescheduled because of rain. Saturday was the first date the center had.
For the ceremony, a table filled with old newspaper clippings and photos relived Robert Sullivan's playing days.
"He was the best baseball player to come out of Lenox High and I love him," former teammate Duke Lahart said.
The day he left the sport, Robert Sullivan was offered a spot on the spring training roster with the Detriot Tigers, Michael Sullivan said.
Robert Sullivan's love of baseball has continued through the generations. Michael Sullivan and his son both have remained dedicated to the high school team as a coach and a player.
The ceremony brought back waves of memories for the family. After the ceremony, the Lenox team took turns shaking the hands of the members of the 1946 team who were present.
"Some of these old-timers just keep talking about him," Michael Sullivan said. "It's such a huge honor for the family."
