Man in a suit points straight at the camera with a stern, intimidating expression (black-and-white photo).","Black-and-white image of a businessman leaning forward and pointing at the viewer.","A formally dressed man extends his arm toward the camera, appearing to challenge the viewer.

Before he became evangelist Billy Sunday, William Ashley Sunday played professional baseball in the major leagues, known for his speed and energy on the field. In the 1890s, at the height of his athletic career, he walked away from the game and turned to preaching, eventually becoming one of the most influential evangelists of his time.

Drawing on his background as an athlete and his dynamic speaking style, Sunday delivered sermons that drew massive crowds and resonated with everyday Americans. Robert J. Morgan, author of 100 Bible Verses That Made America, shares the story of how Billy Sunday’s message spread across the nation and why it had such a powerful impact.