Mike Sweeney

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Michael John Sweeney (born July 22, 1973) is a former Major League baseball designated hitter and first baseman.

Sweeney spent his first 13 seasons with the Kansas City Royals, first as a catcher and then as a designated hitter.

Sweeney has also played for the Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and the Philadelphia Phillies.

Sweeney retired from baseball on March 25, 2011.

He now serves as a special assistant for the Kansas City Royals.

On August 15, 2015, Sweeney was inducted into the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame.

Personal life

Sweeney married Shara Nettles, the niece of Graig Nettles, on November 9, 2002, the daughter of former big leaguer Jim Nettles. They have six children together; three sons and three daughters.

Sweeney's family was forced to leave Rancho Santa Fe and remain with his parents, who live in Ontario, California, due to fires in San Diego and the immediate areas. In a report on MLB.com, he said that the few possessions they took for safekeeping were their marriage license, three wedding photographs, birth certificates, and two photographs of his children with Pope Benedict, which were taken while visiting Rome the previous year. Later, it was revealed that their house was still standing, but that it had been weakened by fire and water.

Sweeney, a fluent speaker of Spanish, was very popular in the K.C. Although a member of the Royals, he was a member of the community. He has been a nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award and has continued to help the community through various initiatives, including the Kansas City FCA chapter, Children's Mercy Hospital, and the Boys and Girls Club of Kansas City.

In a poorer part of downtown Kansas City, Sweeney has also purchased a dirt field. Sweeney Family Field, once used to sell drugs, is now Sweeney Family Field.

The Sporting News named him the 2003 and 2004 Good Guy in Sports. He collaborates with former Kansas City Chiefs running back Tony Richardson to coordinate the Sweeney-Richardson Golf Classic, which supports a faith-based outreach initiative and welcomes area charities and non-profit organizations to attend Royals games as part of the "Sween Team."

Sweeney is known around Kansas City for being courteous and helpful to all supporters. And if they're on the track or in the parking lot, he always signs autographs for all the fans who ask for one before and after games.

The Mike Sweeney Award was established by the Royals Club prior to the 2009 season, honoring a player who is best representing the company both on and off the field.

Sweeney was introduced with the Mr. The Royals Awards Dinner in January 2009 conferred the highest accolade at the Royals Awards Dinner. The award has been given to Ewing Kauffman, the original owner of the Royals and the squad for which Sweeney played 13 years and served as captain, as well as a former captain.

Sweeney is a devout Catholic and has appeared on EWTN's Life on the Rock, a youth-focused program geared toward young Christians. He was featured in a Missouri political commercial on October 24, 2006, defending an embryonic stem cell research bill. It was in response to a pro-embryonic research ad campaign starring actor Michael J. Fox is a cable television network. Sweeney appeared alongside Jim Caviezel, Patricia Heaton, Jeff Suppan, and Kurt Warner.

Sweeney is also the founding chairman of the Catholic Athletes for Christ and a spokesperson for Life Teen, the country's biggest Catholic youth ministry program.

Mike and his wife Shara hosted the Lunch for Life on June 13, 2007 and raised $60,000 for the crisis pregnancy centers around Kansas City. They also paid tribute to a 19-year-old mother who was supposed to have an abortion but instead chose to have her baby. The Sweeneys awarded the girl the first Life Award, which included gift certificates to salons and massage parlors, a baby stroller, a baby crib, and baby clothes. She was also given a $5,000 check to buy a new vehicle.

Sweeney spoke to the National Catholic Register in 2010 about his Catholic faith.

When he came up to bat, Sweeney had "Lose My Soul" by Toby Mac over the stadium's sound system at Citizens Bank Park. Mac used to be with the DC Talk group.

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Major league career

In the 10th round (262nd overall) of the 1991 MLB draft, Sweeney was drafted by the Royals as a catcher from Ontario High School (Ontario, California). In May 1991, he joined the Royals, a month before his graduation from Ontario High School. With an undefeated record of 26-0 for the 1991 season, he had just led his Varsity baseball team as the team captain to a CIF victory.

Sweeney made his major league debut on September 14, 1995, as a catcher. In the final game of the season, Josh Assenmacher of the Cleveland Indians hit him for his first major league base at Jacobs Field. Although his bat ability impressed the Royals, they were less impressed with his plate skills than his predecessors.

He was home run off Seattle Mariners pitcher Jamie Moyer on August 12, 1996. It was a three-run shot.

In 1997, Sweeney split into fishing with Mike Macfarlane. Doug Brocail of the Detroit Tigers dominated a two-run ninth inning game-winning home run off Monday.

Sweeney played in his first Opening Day game in 1998. On May 31, 1998, he tied a club record with two hits in an inning versus the Oakland A's. In the eighth inning with the Kansas City Royals leading by a 12-6 score, he missed hitting for the cycle by about 40 feet.

He made his big break in 1999, when the Royals unsuccessfully attempted to move him during spring training. The Royals began using Sweeney as their regular designated hitter after being plagued with injuries and with no other viable options. The Royals gave rookie Jeremy Giambi their first base job after Jeff King's sudden retirement. When Giambi expressed 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, as well as his 22 home runs and 102 RBI, ranked second and third on the team, respectively. Sweeney had a hit in 25 consecutive games, totaling 42 hits from July 18 to August 13. With George Brett's 25-game streak in 1983, Brett's 30-game streak in 1980, and José Offerman's 27-game streak in 1998, the longest in Royals history.

Sweeney was selected to his first of five All-Star games in 2000. He joined Jermaine Dye to become the first two Royals to attend the Mid-Summer Classic since 1989 (Bo Jackson and Mark Gubicza). On August 13, 2000, he hit the 100 RBI mark for the second year in a row, beating the century record set by no one in Royals history. He finished second in the league with 144 RBI, behind only Seattle's Edgar Martnez's 145 RBI and smashing Hal McRae's 1982 team record of 133.

Sweeney made.392 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI in June 2001 and was named the American League Player of the Month for the first time in his career.

In a game against the Detroit Tigers on August 10, Sweeney was suspended (the first time ejection has occurred) after charging pitcher Jeff Weaver in the sixth innings. Sweeney was pitched by Weaver, who was a member of the Tigers at the time. Sweeney asked the home plate umpire if Weaver would be asked to move the rosin bag from the top of the mound in between pitches. Weaver swung his tongue to Sweeney and proceeded to say something "Webster never put in his dictionary." When charging the pitcher's mound, Sweeney was offended and fired his batting helmet at Weaver. He eventually defeated Weaver, igniting a bench-clearing brawl. Weaver had been chastising the Royals' younger players and Sweeney's faith, according to Sweeney. His coworkers did not deny his remarks. Paul Byrd was one of the first to help Sweeney when he held the Tigers back for a game so 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 suspension (prior to that, he had played in 171 consecutive games).

Sweeney had one of his best seasons in 2002, with.340 for the second-best batting average in the American League and second-highest in club history only to George Brett's.390 in 1980. He had a chance to win the A.L. game. During the season's last weekend, the batting crown was crowned before falling short of Boston's Manny Ramrez, who hit a season-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 complete a straight robbery 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. With left-hander Aaron Guiel at the plate, the Royals took the lead but KC lost the game 3–2, in 14 innings.

Sweeney was put 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 suffer with injuries throughout his career, including a lengthy DL stint with the Royals in 2003, who were aiming for their first winning season since the strike-shortened 1994 season, where they went 64–51.

He was named to his fourth consecutive Major League All-Star Game during the 2003 season, joining closer Mike MacDougal in the Mid-Summer Classic for the first time since 2000 (Sweeney and Jermaine Dye) and the second time since 1989 (Bo Jackson and Mark Gubicza).

Sweeney won by a 13–7 Kansas City victory on July 22, 2004, after hitting an insurance three-run home run later. Sweeney's seven RBIs would be a career-high. During the 2004 season, he would bat.287 with 22 home runs and 79 RBI.

Sweeney had a.305 average with 161 home runs and 683 RBI in 1,026 games through the 2004 season.

Sweeney was named the Royals player of the year in 2005 for the third time in his career. Despite playing in just 122 games, he led the team in average (.300) for the 6th time in his career, doubles (39) and home runs (21). He was named Player Choice Marvin Miller Man of the Year for the fifth time in six seasons and the fifth time in his career.

In 2006, Sweeney was limited to a designated hitter and was only able to play 60 games because of back issues. Sweeney returned from the disabled list on August 8 with six home runs and 26 RBI, but she missed another five games with a sore side.

Sweeney pinch-hit in the bottom of the 9th on September 1, breaking 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 start of the ninth. With two outs, Royals manager Buddy Bell pinch-hit Sweeney for Tony Pee Jr. and Sweeney, who declared the no-hitter. Sweeney received the Hutch Award, which honors players who exemplify a fighting spirit, in honor of Fred Hutchinson, who died of cancer in 1964. In Seattle, it is given every year in January.

Sweeney and the Oakland Athletics announced on February 10, 2008, a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training.

Sweeney's deal came after a good spring, when he reached.308 with a home run. On June 11, Sweeney underwent arthroscopic surgery on his tumultuous left knee, and he was supposed to miss four to six weeks. Sweeney was released by the A's on September 9, following a brief absence from the disabled list.

Sweeney, who's considering retirement, said he'd like to play one more year before retiring.

Sweeney signed a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training with the Seattle Mariners, citing his desire to play for Mariners' manager Don Wakamatsu who was Sweeney's bench coach in Oakland. Sweeney was drafted as a bench player on the major-league roster at Opening Day. Sweeney missed the game during his first at-bat on April 22, 2009, due to back spasms.

In the 4th inning against the Oakland Athletics on May 3, 2009, Sweeney earned his first home run as a Marine and 200th of his career. In an 8-2 loss to the Royals on August 6, Sweeney scored his 100th home run in Kauffman Stadium on his return to Kansas City.

Sweeney officially declared a free agency on November 5, 2009.

Sweeney re-signed with the Mariners in a minor league contract on February 12, 2010.

Ryan Garko, the Mariners' reserve 1st baseman/corner outfielder, was on waivers on March 30, freeing up space on the 25-man roster for Sweeney. Sweeney was not supposed to join the team at the start of spring training, but he defeated Garko in exhibition games by over.500. During his time with the Mariners in 2010, Sweeney would hit.263 with 6 home runs and 18 RBI.

Sweeney was involved in a strange situation in May 2010. Ken Griffey Jr., a teammate, was accused of napping during a pinch hitting opportunity, also known as "Napgate." Griffey was angry because he was asleep "to stand up and fight me," Sweeney said, although Griffey did not deny it.

On August 4, Sweeney was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies to replace injured first baseman Ryan Howard for a player who would be named later and/or cash considerations.

In a 5-0 victory over the San Diego Padres on August 29, 2010, Sweeney scored his first home run as a Phillie. He made his first postseason appearance of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, going for one at the plate in the NLDS for the first time in his career.

Sweeney retired after a one-day deal with the Kansas City Royals on March 25, 2011. On the first day of the 2011 season, he tossing out the Kansas City Royals' first pitch of the year.

2015

Mike Sweeney, along with former Marlins manager Jack McKeon and broadcaster Dave O'Brien, the New York Mets p.r., was inducted into the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame on Tuesday, May 26, 2015. Shannon Forde, and Bill Murray, the comedic actor and manager of several minor league baseball franchises, are among the celebrity and owner of several minor league baseball franchises.

He was on the ballot for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum's 2016 election and received three votes.

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