Bill Sweeney (first baseman)
Encyclopedia
William Joseph Sweeney was an American
first baseman
and coach
in Major League Baseball
and a longtime manager
at the minor league
level. Sweeney threw and batted right-handed, stood 5'11" (185 cm) tall and weighed 180 pounds (82 kg) in his playing days.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio
, Sweeney was the nephew of former major league infielder William John Sweeney
(1886-1948), who played eight seasons in the National League
between and . The younger Sweeney, however, would play his three MLB seasons in the American League
, for the Detroit Tigers
and Boston Red Sox
(-), appearing in 308 games and garnering an even 300 hits
in 1,050 at bats for a .286 batting average
, with 58 doubles
, eight triples
, five home runs and 107 runs batted in.
He would become better known in baseball as a manager in the Pacific Coast League
. On May 11, 1936, Sweeney succeeded former Philadelphia Athletics
star infielder Max Bishop
as playing manager of the Portland Beavers
, and promptly led them to the 1936 PCL championship. Sweeney led Portland through 1939, then switched to the rival Hollywood Stars
(1940-41). In 1942, he was a playing coach for the crosstown Los Angeles Angels
, then was promoted to manager of the Seraphs in 1943. Although his 1943-44 Angels captured PCL regular-season titles — and his '43 squad won 110 of 155 (.710) games — each team fell in the PCL post-season playoffs, and Sweeney's first term as manager of the Angels ended after the 1946 campaign. He then returned to the American League for two seasons, working as a coach for the Tigers under manager Steve O'Neill
(-48
).
Sweeney moved back to the Pacific Coast League in 1949 for his second term as manager of the Portland Beavers. In four seasons (1949-52), the Beavers posted two winning records but no championships. After a successful, second-place finish with the 1953 Seattle Rainiers
, Sweeney resumed the helm of the Angels for a second term there, but a losing record in 1954 was compounded by a poor start to 1955, and Sweeney was replaced by Bob Scheffing
in midyear.
But Sweeney came back to the field, and Portland, in the midseason of 1956 for a third and final stint as skipper of the Beavers. He succeeded Tommy Holmes
as manager and led the Beavers to a third-place finish and was invited to return for 1957. However, on April 18, after only six games of the 1957 campaign, Sweeney was felled by a fatal heart attack
during a road trip to San Diego, California
, at the age of 52. He was interred in Resurrection Cemetery, San Gabriel, California
.
Bill Sweeney's career record as a manager in the PCL was 1,471 victories and 1,452 defeats (.503) with one championship over all or parts of 18 seasons. He was selected to the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame
in 2004.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
and coach
Coach (baseball)
In baseball, a number of coaches assist in the smooth functioning of a team. They are assistants to the manager, or head coach, who determines the lineup and decides how to substitute players during the game...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
and a longtime manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
at the minor league
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
level. Sweeney threw and batted right-handed, stood 5'11" (185 cm) tall and weighed 180 pounds (82 kg) in his playing days.
Born in Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
, Sweeney was the nephew of former major league infielder William John Sweeney
Bill Sweeney (infielder)
William John Sweeney was an infielder in Major League Baseball from 1907 to 1914. He graduated from St. Xavier High School in Cincinnati, Ohio.-External links:...
(1886-1948), who played eight seasons in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
between and . The younger Sweeney, however, would play his three MLB seasons in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
, for the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
and Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
(-), appearing in 308 games and garnering an even 300 hits
Hit (baseball)
In baseball statistics, a hit , also called a base hit, is credited to a batter when the batter safely reaches first base after hitting the ball into fair territory, without the benefit of an error or a fielder's choice....
in 1,050 at bats for a .286 batting average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
, with 58 doubles
Double (baseball)
In baseball, a double is the act of a batter striking the pitched ball and safely reaching second base without being called out by the umpire, without the benefit of a fielder's misplay or another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, eight triples
Triple (baseball)
In baseball, a triple is the act of a batter safely reaching third base after hitting the ball, with neither the benefit of a fielder's misplay nor another runner being put out on a fielder's choice....
, five home runs and 107 runs batted in.
He would become better known in baseball as a manager in the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
. On May 11, 1936, Sweeney succeeded former Philadelphia Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
star infielder Max Bishop
Max Bishop
Max Frederick Bishop was a second baseman in Major League Baseball who played from through for the Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox . Bishop batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
as playing manager of the Portland Beavers
Portland Beavers
The Tucson Padres are a minor league baseball team, representing Tucson, Arizona, in the Pacific Coast League . They are the Triple-A affiliate for the San Diego Padres. The team was formerly known as the Portland Beavers and played its last home game at PGE Park on September 6, 2010...
, and promptly led them to the 1936 PCL championship. Sweeney led Portland through 1939, then switched to the rival Hollywood Stars
Hollywood Stars
The Hollywood Stars were a minor league baseball team that played in the Pacific Coast League during the early and mid 20th century. They were the arch-rivals of the other Los Angeles based PCL team, the Los Angeles Angels.-Hollywood Stars :...
(1940-41). In 1942, he was a playing coach for the crosstown Los Angeles Angels
Los Angeles Angels (PCL)
The Los Angeles Angels were a team based in Los Angeles, California that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903 through 1957, after which they transferred to Spokane, Washington to become the Spokane Indians. Los Angeles would later become the host city to a Major League Baseball team, the...
, then was promoted to manager of the Seraphs in 1943. Although his 1943-44 Angels captured PCL regular-season titles — and his '43 squad won 110 of 155 (.710) games — each team fell in the PCL post-season playoffs, and Sweeney's first term as manager of the Angels ended after the 1946 campaign. He then returned to the American League for two seasons, working as a coach for the Tigers under manager Steve O'Neill
Steve O'Neill
Stephen Francis O'Neill was an American catcher, manager, coach and scout in Major League Baseball.Born to Irish immigrants in Minooka, Pennsylvania , O'Neill was one of six brothers who escaped a life in the coal mines by playing in the major leagues...
(-48
1948 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Cleveland Indians over Boston Braves *All-Star Game, July 13 at Sportsman's Park: American League, 5-2-Other champions:*College World Series: USC*Little League World Series: Lock Haven, Pennsylvania...
).
Sweeney moved back to the Pacific Coast League in 1949 for his second term as manager of the Portland Beavers. In four seasons (1949-52), the Beavers posted two winning records but no championships. After a successful, second-place finish with the 1953 Seattle Rainiers
Seattle Rainiers
The Seattle Rainiers, originally named the Seattle Indians and also known as the Seattle Angels, were a minor league baseball team in Seattle, Washington, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1903-06 and 1919-68...
, Sweeney resumed the helm of the Angels for a second term there, but a losing record in 1954 was compounded by a poor start to 1955, and Sweeney was replaced by Bob Scheffing
Bob Scheffing
Robert Boden Scheffing was an American baseball player, coach, manager and front-office executive. Nicknamed "Grumpy," the native of Overland, Missouri is most often identified with the Chicago Cubs, for whom he played as a catcher , coached , and managed .Scheffing also spent 2½ years as...
in midyear.
But Sweeney came back to the field, and Portland, in the midseason of 1956 for a third and final stint as skipper of the Beavers. He succeeded Tommy Holmes
Tommy Holmes
Thomas Francis Holmes was an American right and center fielder and manager in Major League Baseball who played nearly his entire career for the Boston Braves...
as manager and led the Beavers to a third-place finish and was invited to return for 1957. However, on April 18, after only six games of the 1957 campaign, Sweeney was felled by a fatal heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
during a road trip to San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, at the age of 52. He was interred in Resurrection Cemetery, San Gabriel, California
San Gabriel, California
San Gabriel is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. It is named after the Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, founded by Junipero Serra. The city grew outward from the mission and in 1852 became the original township of Los Angeles County. San Gabriel was incorporated in 1913...
.
Bill Sweeney's career record as a manager in the PCL was 1,471 victories and 1,452 defeats (.503) with one championship over all or parts of 18 seasons. He was selected to the Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame
Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame
The Pacific Coast League Hall of Fame was created in 1942 by the Helms Athletic Foundation of Los Angeles. The foundation selected players, managers and executives who they felt best contributed to the ideals of the Pacific Coast League. The Hall of Fame inducted its first class in 1943...
in 2004.
Sources
- Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, eds., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, N.C.: Baseball AmericaBaseball AmericaBaseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
, 2007. - Baseball Almanac
- Retrosheet