And a 1, and a 2, and a 3 Bill Sweeneys

pholmer · 08-16-2025, 02:11 AM

When I was researching my last post on the 2 Bill Swifts, I was looking through the Photos folder and right above the Swifts were the Bill Sweeneys, 3 of them.

The first Bill Sweeney (BSw1) only played 2 years in the Majors, 1882 and 1884. He played for Philadelphia in the American Association in 1882 and for the Baltimore Monumentals of the Union Association in 1884. (The Union Association league only lasted one season, 1884.) BSw1 was a pitcher as well as playing 2nd base and the outfield during his short career. His year in Philadelphia was mediocre with a 9-10 record as a pitcher and a BA of .159. When he joined Baltimore, however, he improved. His BA improved to a respectable, if not exciting, .240. But as a pitcher he excelled, establishing a 40-21 record and a 2.59 ERA with a 4th place team. He threw 538 innings. Then, for whatever reason, his career was over. His bio and stats follow.

pholmer · 08-16-2025, 02:43 AM

The 2nd Bill Sweeney (BSw2) began his career in baseball in 1907 with the Chicago Cubs, who promptly traded him to the Boston Braves. He spent the next 6 seasons with the Braves and returned to the Cubs for his final season in 1914. He was a utility infielder, playing 2nd, 3rd, and shortstop. He soon became a starter and his BA improved as he playing time increased. He was considered for MVP 3 times, finishing 6th in 1912 when he batted .344. He retired from baseball in 1914 at the age of 28.

pholmer · 08-16-2025, 03:43 AM

Our third Bill Sweeney (BSw3) was a career minor leaguer who began playing in the midwest in 1925 and ended his baseball days with the Hollywood Stars and Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League 1n 1942. In that span he had a couple of shots at the big leagues, with Detroit in 1928 and the Red Sox in 1930-31.

With the Tigers, he had a decent year playing 1st base in 1928 hitting .252. He was sent to Toronto of the Triple A International League where he hit .335. Apparently, that was enough to interest the Red Sox. BSw3 hit .309 in 1930 in a limited role and .295 in '31. By this time he was 27 years old and the team may have believed he had peaked and would only downhill in the future. Whatever the reasons, BSw3 played 11 more years in the minors, mostly Triple A, consistently batting over .300, but never got another call-up from an MLB team. He retired in 1942 at the age of 38.

08-16-2025, 02:11 AM	#1
pholmer Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 159	And a 1, and a 2, and a 3 Bill Sweeneys When I was researching my last post on the 2 Bill Swifts, I was looking through the Photos folder and right above the Swifts were the Bill Sweeneys, 3 of them. The first Bill Sweeney (BSw1) only played 2 years in the Majors, 1882 and 1884. He played for Philadelphia in the American Association in 1882 and for the Baltimore Monumentals of the Union Association in 1884. (The Union Association league only lasted one season, 1884.) BSw1 was a pitcher as well as playing 2nd base and the outfield during his short career. His year in Philadelphia was mediocre with a 9-10 record as a pitcher and a BA of .159. When he joined Baltimore, however, he improved. His BA improved to a respectable, if not exciting, .240. But as a pitcher he excelled, establishing a 40-21 record and a 2.59 ERA with a 4th place team. He threw 538 innings. Then, for whatever reason, his career was over. His bio and stats follow. Attached Images

08-16-2025, 02:43 AM	#2
pholmer Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 159	And a 1, and a 2, and a 3 Bill Sweeneys The 2nd Bill Sweeney (BSw2) began his career in baseball in 1907 with the Chicago Cubs, who promptly traded him to the Boston Braves. He spent the next 6 seasons with the Braves and returned to the Cubs for his final season in 1914. He was a utility infielder, playing 2nd, 3rd, and shortstop. He soon became a starter and his BA improved as he playing time increased. He was considered for MVP 3 times, finishing 6th in 1912 when he batted .344. He retired from baseball in 1914 at the age of 28. Attached Images

08-16-2025, 03:43 AM	#3
pholmer Minors (Double A) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Riverside, CA Posts: 159	And a 1, and a 2, and a 3 Bill Sweeneys Our third Bill Sweeney (BSw3) was a career minor leaguer who began playing in the midwest in 1925 and ended his baseball days with the Hollywood Stars and Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League 1n 1942. In that span he had a couple of shots at the big leagues, with Detroit in 1928 and the Red Sox in 1930-31. With the Tigers, he had a decent year playing 1st base in 1928 hitting .252. He was sent to Toronto of the Triple A International League where he hit .335. Apparently, that was enough to interest the Red Sox. BSw3 hit .309 in 1930 in a limited role and .295 in '31. By this time he was 27 years old and the team may have believed he had peaked and would only downhill in the future. Whatever the reasons, BSw3 played 11 more years in the minors, mostly Triple A, consistently batting over .300, but never got another call-up from an MLB team. He retired in 1942 at the age of 38. Attached Images