Bill Sweeney
Born: 1858 in Philadelphia, PA, USA
Died: 8/2/1903 in Philadelphia, PA, USA
MLB Debut: 1882-06-27 | Final Game: 1884-10-14
Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 160 lbs
Full name: William J. Sweeney
Biography
Bill Sweeney was a prominent pitcher in the early years of professional baseball, showcasing his talents from 1882 to 1884. Born in 1858, Sweeney made his mark during a time when the game was transitioning from the rough-and-tumble days of the 19th century to a more organized sport. He compiled a notable career record of 49 wins and 31 losses, reflecting his effectiveness on the mound. With an earned run average (ERA) of 2.67, he was recognized for his ability to limit scoring opportunities for opposing teams and posted a total of 422 strikeouts throughout his career.
Sweeney's playing style was characterized by his strategic approach to pitching, which was essential during an era that emphasized skill and precision over the power seen in later generations. Despite not recording any saves, his contributions as a starting pitcher were vital to his teams' successes. As one of the early figures in baseball history, Sweeney helped lay the groundwork for future generations of pitchers, influencing the evolution of the game during its formative years. His legacy remains a testament to the talent and determination that defined the sport in its early stages.
Negro Leagues Career Statistics
Batting
| PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 67.0 | 66.0 | 10.0 | 25.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.379 | 0.388 | 0.561 | 0.949 |
Negro Leagues Season-by-Season Batting
| Season | PA | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | BB | SO | SB | BA | OBP | SLG | OPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | 34.0 | 34.0 | 5.0 | 14.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.412 | 0.412 | 0.647 | 1.059 |
| 1929 | 24.0 | 23.0 | 3.0 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0 | 0 | 0.348 | 0.375 | 0.435 | 0.810 |
| 1930 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 2.0 | 3.0 | 0 | 1.0 | 0 | 2.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.333 | 0.556 | 0.889 |
Career Pitching Statistics
| W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49 | 31 | 82 | 80 | 76 | 4 | 0 | 708.0 | 700 | 210 | 17 | 116 | 422 | 2.67 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Pitching
| Year | Team | Lg | W | L | G | GS | CG | SHO | SV | IP | H | ER | BB | SO | ERA | Pitcher PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1882 | PH4 | AA | 9 | 10 | 20 | 20 | 18 | 0 | 0 | 170.0 | 178 | 55 | 42 | 48 | 2.91 | -1959.1 |
| 1884 | BLU | UA | 40 | 21 | 62 | 60 | 58 | 4 | 0 | 538.0 | 522 | 155 | 74 | 374 | 2.59 | 7556.8 |
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 97 | 384 | 43 | 85 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0.221 | 0.247 | 0.250 | 0.497 | -975.3 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1882 | PH4 | AA | 23 | 88 | 8 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0.159 | -407.8 |
| 1884 | BLU | UA | 74 | 296 | 35 | 71 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0.240 | -567.6 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2B | 6 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 7 | 1 |
| OF | 16 | 0 | 13 | 9 | 6 | 1 |
| P | 82 | 0 | 34 | 184 | 40 | 3 |
| SS | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1882 | PH4 | P | 20 | 0 | 9 | 51 | 6 | 0 |
| 1882 | PH4 | OF | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1884 | BLU | P | 62 | 0 | 25 | 133 | 34 | 3 |
| 1884 | BLU | 2B | 6 | 0 | 6 | 15 | 7 | 1 |
| 1884 | BLU | SS | 2 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 1884 | BLU | OF | 11 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 1 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| Pitcher | 82 |
| Second Base | 6 |
| Shortstop | 2 |
| Left Field | 1 |
| Center Field | 7 |
| Right Field | 8 |