Bob Sullivan, Grand Rapids' "Mr. Baseball" sponsored and managed the winningest non-professional team in the country in the 1970s and 80s, and also took his “Sullivan’s Furnituremen to international wins with six Honkbal titles in Haarlem, Netherlands.
The local businessman, owner of Sullivan’s Carpet & Furniture, and civic leader was also a Major League scout for Boston, Kansas City and the Detroit Tigers, he identified and signed dozens of players to professional contracts.
In 46 seasons, the Furnituremen posted a 1,895-510 record with four National Baseball Congress titles, six international tournament crowns, 30 NBC state championships, 27 United Baseball League championships and 40 City Major titles.
More than 600 players played for the team, with 240 eventually signing professional contracts and 76 making Major League Baseball rosters. A former Sullivan’s player was part of every Major League roster in the modern era. Three major league managers also were former members in Phil Reagan, John Farrell and Kirk Gibson, and among his players at times were Al Kaline, Willie Horton, Jim Kaat and Dave Rozema.
Sullivan fielded his first team in 1953, filling a void for local baseball after the Grand Rapids Jets folded in 1950 and until the West Michigan Whitecaps, a professional minor league franchise, started play in 1994.
He also sponsored local football (Shamrocks) and basketball (Tackers) as well as boxing and Little League baseball.
In 2013 Sullivan received the Gerald R. Ford Award from the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. His Furnituremen are also in the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame as a Team Inductee.