American baseball player (born 1973)
Baseball player
Michael John Sweeney
(born July 22, 1973) is an American former
Major League Baseball
designated hitter
and
first baseman
. Sweeney played his first 13 seasons in the majors with the
Kansas City Royals
, first as a
catcher
, then at
first base
and designated hitter. Sweeney also played for the
Oakland Athletics
,
Seattle Mariners
, and
Philadelphia Phillies
. On March 25, 2011, Sweeney retired from baseball. He now works as a special assistant for the Kansas City Royals. Sweeney was inducted into the
Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame
on August 15, 2015.
Major league career
[
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]
Career with Royals
[
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]
1991-97
[
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]
Sweeney was drafted by the Royals as a
catcher
out of
Ontario High School
(
Ontario, California
) in the 10th round (262nd overall) of the
1991 MLB draft
. He signed with the Royals in May 1991, a month before his graduation from Ontario High School. He had just led his Varsity baseball team as the team captain to a CIF victory with an undefeated record of 26-0 for the 1991 season.
Sweeney made his major league debut on September 14, 1995 as a catcher. He got his first major league
base hit
against
Cleveland Indians
'
pitcher
Paul Assenmacher
at
Jacobs Field
in the final game of the season. While Sweeney's ability with the bat impressed the Royals, they were less than enamored with his skills behind the plate.
Sweeney hit his first
home run
, off
Seattle Mariners
'
pitcher
Jamie Moyer
, on August 12, 1996. It was a three-run shot.
Sweeney split catching duties with
Mike Macfarlane
in 1997. He belted a two-run, ninth inning, game-winning home run off then
Detroit Tigers
' pitcher
Doug Brocail
on May 15, 1997.
1998
[
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]
In 1998, Sweeney played in his first
Opening Day
game. He tied a club record with two hits in an inning versus the
Oakland A's
on May 31, 1998. Sweeney missed
hitting for the cycle
by approximately 40 feet, when he retreated to
second base
on what appeared to be a sure
triple
in the eighth inning with the
Kansas City Royals
leading by a 12-6 score.
1999?2001
[
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]
Sweeney's big break came in 1999, after the Royals tried unsuccessfully to trade him during
spring training
. Riddled with injuries and with no other viable options, the Royals started using Sweeney as their regular designated hitter. After the sudden retirement of
Jeff King
, the Royals offered the first base job to rookie
Jeremy Giambi
. When Giambi showed reluctance, they gave the job to Sweeney, who responded by posting the highest
fielding percentage
by a regular first baseman in more than 20 years. His .322
batting average
led the team and his 22 home runs and 102
RBI
were second and third on the team, respectively. From July 18 to August 13, Sweeney had a hit in 25 consecutive games, collecting 42 hits total. The 25-game
hitting streak
is tied for fourth longest in Royals history with
George Brett
's 25-game streak in 1983, trailing only
Whit Merrifield
's 31-game streak spanning 2018?2019, Brett's 30-game streak in 1980 and
Jose Offerman
's 27-game streak in 1998.
In 2000, Sweeney was selected to his first of five
All-Star
games. He joined
Jermaine Dye
to become the first pair of Royals to go to the Mid-Summer Classic since 1989 (
Bo Jackson
and
Mark Gubicza
). Sweeney passed the 100 RBI mark for the second straight year on August 13, 2000, reaching the century mark faster than any player in Royals history. He finished second in the league with a club record 144 RBI, behind only Seattle's
Edgar Martinez
's 145 RBI, and breaking
Hal McRae
's 1982 team mark of 133.
In June 2001, Sweeney hit .392 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI with a .794
slugging percentage
and was named the
American League
Player of the Month
for the only time in his career.
Sweeney vs. Weaver
[
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]
Sweeney was ejected in a game versus the Detroit Tigers on August 10 (his first career ejection) after charging pitcher
Jeff Weaver
in the sixth inning. Weaver, who was a member of the Tigers at the time, was pitching to Sweeney. In between pitches, Sweeney asked the
home plate
umpire
if Weaver could be asked to move the rosin bag from the top of the mound. After that, Weaver put his glove over his mouth and appeared to say something "Webster never put in his dictionary"
[1]
to Sweeney. Sweeney was offended and launched his batting helmet at Weaver while charging the pitcher's mound. He eventually tackled Weaver, igniting a
bench-clearing brawl
. Sweeney said afterwards that Weaver had been criticizing the Royals' younger players and Sweeney's faith. Sweeney's teammates did not deny his comments.
Paul Byrd
was one of the first to aid Sweeney as he held back the Tigers' catcher so that Sweeney could reach Weaver. Sweeney missed the next 15 games, five due to a "bruised hand" and the next ten to serve a suspension, his first career suspension (prior to that, he had played in 171 consecutive games).
2002?2004
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Sweeney had one of the best seasons of his career in 2002, hitting .340 for the second-highest batting average in the American League and the second-highest in club history only to George Brett's .390 in 1980. He had a chance of winning the A.L. batting crown through the season's final weekend, before falling short of
Boston
's
Manny Ramirez
who hit a league-best .349. Sweeney was hitting .347 on September 24 before going 2-for-16 in his final four games.
On August 14, 2002, he became the fifth Royal in club history to record a straight
steal
of home and the first since
Fred Patek
versus
Minnesota
on June 18, 1977, with a stolen base off the
New York Yankees
'
Andy Pettitte
. His stolen base came on a 1-2 count with
left-hander
Aaron Guiel
at the plate and gave the Royals a 2?1 lead, but KC lost the game, 3?2, in 14 innings.
Sweeney was placed on the
disabled list
for the first time in his career on July 26, 2002 (retroactive to July 14) with a lower back and hip strain. He would continue to have injury problems throughout the rest of his career, including a lengthy DL stint during the 2003 season, with the Royals seeking their first winning season since the strike-shortened 1994 season, where they went 64?51.
During the 2003 season, Sweeney was named to his fourth consecutive Major League All-Star Game, joining
closer
Mike MacDougal
at the Mid-Summer Classic, marking the first time since 2000 (Sweeney and
Jermaine Dye
) that KC had two representatives and just the second time since 1989 (
Bo Jackson
and
Mark Gubicza
).
On July 22, 2004, Sweeney hit a
grand slam
and later hit an insurance three-run home run in a 13?7 Kansas City win. The seven RBI would be a career-high for Sweeney. He would go on to bat .287 with 22 home runs and 79 RBI during the 2004 season.
Through the 2004 season, Sweeney compiled a .305 average with 161 home runs and 683 RBI in 1,026 games.
2005?2007
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In 2005, Sweeney was named the Royals' player of the year for the third time in his career. He led the team in average (.300) for the sixth time in his career,
doubles
(39) and home runs (21), despite playing in just 122 games. Sweeney was named the Players Choice Marvin Miller Man of the Year and was also named to the All-Star team for the fifth time in six seasons and the final time in his career.
Sweeney was restricted to designated hitter and was able to play just 60 games because of back problems in 2006. After returning from the disabled list on August 8, Sweeney hit .293 with six homers and 26 RBI, but missed another five games with a sore side.
On September 1, his first day back off the DL, Sweeney
pinch-hit
in the bottom of the ninth and hit a bloop base hit that broke up
Minnesota Twins
starting
pitcher
Scott Baker
's
no-hitter
. Baker had gone eight
perfect
innings before he
walked
Royals
catcher
John Buck
at the beginning of the ninth. With two outs to go, Royals
manager
Buddy Bell
pinch-hit Sweeney for
Tony Pena Jr.
and Sweeney ended the no-hitter.
[2]
Sweeney won the
Hutch Award
, which honors players who exemplify a fighting spirit, honoring
Fred Hutchinson
, who died of cancer in 1964. It is awarded annually in Seattle in January.
[3]
Athletics, Mariners, and Phillies
[
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]
2008
[
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]
On February 10, 2008, Sweeney signed a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training, with the
Oakland Athletics
.
[4]
After a strong spring in which he hit .308 with a home run, Sweeney's contract was purchased on March 25, 2008. Sweeney underwent
arthroscopic
surgery on his troublesome left knee on June 11, and was expected to miss four to six weeks. After a brief return from the disabled list, Sweeney was released by the A's on September 9.
After considering retirement, Sweeney said he would like to play one more year before retiring.
[5]
2009
[
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On January 29, 2009, Sweeney signed a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training with the Seattle Mariners,
[6]
citing his desire to play for Mariners'
manager
Don Wakamatsu
who was Sweeney's bench coach in Oakland.
[7]
Sweeney made the major-league club
Opening Day
roster as a bench player. On April 22, 2009, Sweeney left the game during his first at-bat due to back spasms.
On May 3, 2009, Sweeney hit his first home run as a Mariner and 200th of his career in the 4th inning at
Safeco Field
against the
Oakland Athletics
.
[8]
On August 6, in a return to Kansas City, Sweeney hit his 100th home run in
Kauffman Stadium
in an 8-2 loss to the Royals.
[9]
On November 5, 2009, Sweeney declared free agency.
[10]
2010
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On February 12, 2010, Sweeney re-signed with the Mariners to a minor league deal.
[11]
On March 30 the Mariners placed reserve first baseman/corner outfielder
Ryan Garko
on waivers, clearing room on the 25-man roster for Sweeney. Sweeney was not expected to make the team at the start of spring training but hit over .500 in exhibition games to beat out Garko. Sweeney would hit .263 with six home runs and 18 RBI during his time with the Mariners in 2010.
In May 2010, Sweeney was involved in an interesting situation. Teammate
Ken Griffey Jr.
was accused of napping during a pinch hitting opportunity, also known as "Napgate". Sweeney said he challenged anyone who said Griffey was asleep "to stand up and fight me"; however, Griffey did not deny the accusation.
[12]
On August 4, Sweeney was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies to replace injured first baseman
Ryan Howard
for a player to be named later and/or cash considerations.
Sweeney hit his first home run as a Phillie on August 29, 2010 in a 5-0 win over the San Diego Padres. With the Phillies, he also made the first postseason appearance of his career, going one for one at the plate in the NLDS.
On March 25, 2011 Sweeney signed a one-day contract with the Kansas City Royals and retired.
[13]
He threw out the first pitch of the
2011 season
for the Kansas City Royals on opening day.
2015
On Tuesday, May 26, 2015, Mike Sweeney was inducted into the
Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame
, along with former Marlins manager Jack McKeon, broadcaster Dave O'Brien, New York Mets p.r. executive Shannon Forde, and Bill Murray, the comedic actor and owner of several minor league baseball teams.
He appeared on the ballot for the
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
2016 election
and earned three votes.
[14]
MLB Network
[
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In March 2012, Sweeney joined the
MLB Network
as a studio analyst.
[15]
He would leave the network shortly after making his first few appearances on
MLB Tonight
.
Last days as a Royal
[
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]
On September 29, 2007, the day before his final game, Sweeney took out a full page ad in the sports section of
The Kansas City Star
.
[16]
The following day, September 30, Sweeney took the field against the
Cleveland Indians
in front of 19,104 fans at
Kauffman Stadium
in
Kansas City
. Sweeney's first at bat was interrupted by a standing ovation. His second at bat was delayed as well due to applause. Sweeney was removed from first base in the 7th inning and was given a third standing ovation. Sweeney entered the dugout, and upon still hearing fans roaring, he exited the dugout towards the field and bowed, waved, and said "Thank you." After the game, Sweeney and his two children rounded the bases as part of a Sunday home game tradition at Kauffman Stadium called "Sunday Fan Fun Run." Then he spent time talking to reporters, and as always, signed autographs for fans before he left the parking lot. Since leaving the
Kansas City Royals
his Number 29 has been left out of circulation leading some to believe the Royals might end up retiring his number one day. After leaving the Royals, Sweeney ended up wearing #5 for the rest of his career with the
Oakland Athletics
,
Seattle Mariners
, and
Philadelphia Phillies
.
Return to Royals
[
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]
In February 2014, the Kansas City Royals announced that they had hired Sweeney as a special assistant to baseball operations.
[17]
Sweeney's response to receiving the new job: "The only thing I was unable to accomplish during my playing days was to bring October baseball back to Kansas City. With this new position, my goal is do as much as I can to help the Royals get back to being one of the prized organizations in baseball, as it was in the 1980s."
[18]
Sweeney settled into the role quite quickly, attending the Royals' spring training in
Surprise, Arizona
as a guest instructor that same month. That year, the Royals made the postseason for the first time in 29 years.
Personal life
[
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On November 9, 2002, Sweeney married Shara Nettles, the daughter of former major leaguer
Jim Nettles
, niece of
Graig Nettles
. They have six children together; three sons and three daughters.
[5]
Due to fires in
San Diego
and the surrounding areas, Sweeney's family was forced to evacuate their home in
Rancho Santa Fe
and stay with his parents, who live in
Ontario, California
. He stated in a report on MLB.com that the few possessions that they took for safekeeping were their marriage certificate, three wedding photographs, birth certificates, and two pictures of his children with
Pope Benedict
, taken while they were in Rome the previous year. It was later reported that their house was still standing, although damaged by smoke and water.
A fluent speaker of Spanish,
[19]
Sweeney was very active in the K.C. community while a member of the Royals. He has been a nominee for the
Roberto Clemente
Award, and has continued to support the community through various programs, including the Kansas City FCA chapter, Children's Mercy Hospital and the
Boys and Girls Club
of
Kansas City
.
Sweeney has also purchased a dirt field in a poorer section of downtown Kansas City. The baseball field, once used to sell drugs, is now called Sweeney Family Field.
[20]
He was named the 2003 and 2004 Good Guy in Sports by the
Sporting News
. He teams up annually with former
Kansas City Chiefs
fullback
Tony Richardson
to host the Sweeney-Richardson Golf Classic, which benefits a faith-based outreach program and
invites area charity and non-profit groups to attend Royals games as part of the "Sween Team".
[21]
Sweeney is known all around Kansas City for being very polite and friendly towards all fans. He always signs autographs for all the fans who ask for one before and after games whether on the field or in the parking lot.
[22]
[23]
Before the 2009 season, the Royals organization created the Mike Sweeney Award which recognizes a player best representing the organization on and off the field.
[5]
Sweeney was presented with the Mr. Baseball Award?the top honor at the Royals Awards dinner in January 2009. The award is named for Ewing Kauffman, founder of the Royals and the team for which Sweeney played 13 years and served as captain.
Religion and activism
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Sweeney is a devout
Catholic
and has appeared on
EWTN
's
Life on the Rock
, a program targeted towards young Christians. On October 24, 2006, he was featured in a political advertisement opposing an
embryonic stem cell research
bill in
Missouri
. It was in response to a pro-embryonic research advertisement featuring actor
Michael J. Fox
. Sweeney appeared with
Jim Caviezel
,
Patricia Heaton
,
Jeff Suppan
, and
Kurt Warner
.
Sweeney is also the advisory chairman of the
Catholic Athletes for Christ
and spokesman for
Life Teen
, the largest Catholic
youth ministry
program in the United States.
On June 13, 2007, Mike and his wife Shara hosted the Lunch for Life
[24]
and raised $60,000 for the crisis pregnancy centers throughout
Kansas City
. They also honored a 19-year-old mother who was going to have an abortion but instead chose to have her baby. The Sweeneys gave the girl the first Life Award, which included gift certificates to salons and massage parlors and a grocery store, a baby stroller, a baby crib and clothes for the baby. She also received a $5,000 check to purchase a new automobile.
In 2010, Sweeney spoke to the
National Catholic Register
about his Catholic faith.
[25]
Sweeney had "
Lose My Soul
" by
Toby Mac
played over the stadium sound system at
Citizens Bank Park
when he came up to bat. Mac used to be with the group
DC Talk
.
Career statistics
[
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See also
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]
References
[
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]
- ^
Weaver's `bad' attitude a part of fighting spirit.
Archived
February 13, 2009, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
The Official Site of The Kansas City Royals: News: Sweeney's return pays off for Royals
Archived
October 23, 2013, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: Sweeney wins 2007 Hutch Award
Archived
October 23, 2013, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
The Official Site of Major League Baseball: News: A's ink Sweeney to Minor League deal
Archived
October 23, 2013, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
a
b
c
Dick Kaegal
(January 7, 2009).
"Sweeney hopes to play one more year"
.
MLB.com
. Archived from
the original
on February 14, 2009
. Retrieved
January 7,
2009
.
- ^
Sweeney inks deal with M's
Archived
August 3, 2016, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
Mariners sign Mike Sweeney
Archived
February 15, 2009, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
"No-quit Mariners stun A's in 15th | Mariners.com: News"
.
Archived
from the original on April 6, 2012
. Retrieved
2009-05-04
.
- ^
"Sweeney hits milestone, but Seattle falls | Mariners.com: News"
.
Archived
from the original on April 6, 2012
. Retrieved
2009-08-08
.
- ^
Beltre, Sweeney file for free agency
Archived
November 8, 2009, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
Sweeney returns to Mariners on Minors deal
Archived
April 6, 2012, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
Rosenthal, Ken (May 11, 2010).
"Junior's teammate issues challenge"
.
Fox Sports
. Archived from
the original
on December 24, 2013
. Retrieved
January 21,
2013
.
- ^
Mike Sweeney retires
Archived
April 1, 2012, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2605588-2016-bbwaa-hall-of-fame-election-results-announced
Archived
March 12, 2016, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
MLB Network press release
Archived
October 23, 2013, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
"Sweeney purchases full-page ad to thank fans, organization"
.
ESPN.com
. Associated Press. September 30, 2007
. Retrieved
February 7,
2014
.
- ^
"Mike Sweeney back with Royals"
.
ESPN.com
. Associated Press. February 7, 2014
. Retrieved
February 7,
2014
.
- ^
"Royals name former player Mike Sweeney Special Assistant to Baseball Operations"
.
MLB.com
. February 7, 2014
. Retrieved
February 7,
2014
.
- ^
Speaking Spanish helps K.C.'s Sweeney relate to teammates
Archived
October 16, 2015, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
Sweeney has impact on life in KC
Archived
October 16, 2012, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
Mike Sweeney biography
- ^
Too good to be true? No, Mike Sweeney is nicest guy in sports
- ^
Royals’ Mike Sweeney relies on faith in Christ
Archived
December 28, 2007, at the
Wayback Machine
- ^
Lunch for Life 2007
- ^
Mass-Going Mariner Suits Up
Archived
February 29, 2016, at the
Wayback Machine
External links
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Current
personalities
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Former
personalities
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Programming
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Miscellaneous
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