Bill Sweeney
Born: 3/6/1886 in Covington, KY, USA
Died: 5/26/1948 in Cambridge, MA, USA
MLB Debut: 1907-06-14 | Final Game: 1914-10-05
Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'11" | Weight: 175 lbs
Full name: William John Sweeney
Biography
Bill Sweeney was a professional baseball player born in 1886, whose career spanned from 1907 to 1914. Known for his versatility on the field, Sweeney played primarily as a position player, showcasing his skills over a substantial 1,039 games in Major League Baseball. He concluded his career with a batting average of .272, accumulating 1,004 hits, 11 home runs, and 389 RBIs. Sweeney was also recognized for his speed on the bases, having successfully stolen 172 bases during his time in the majors.
Playing in an era that bridged the deadball and lively ball periods, Sweeney's contributions came during a transformative time in baseball history. His ability to combine batting prowess with base-running agility made him a valuable asset to his teams. Sweeney's legacy is one of consistency and reliability, as he carved out a successful career in a highly competitive environment, leaving an indelible mark in the annals of early 20th-century baseball.
Career Batting Statistics
| G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | OBP | SLG | OPS | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1039 | 3692 | 442 | 1004 | 153 | 40 | 11 | 389 | 172 | 423 | 215 | 0.272 | 0.349 | 0.344 | 0.693 | 5016.2 |
Season-by-Season Batting
| Year | Team | Lg | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI | SB | BB | SO | AVG | PIV |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1907 | BSN | NL | 58 | 191 | 24 | 50 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 8 | 15 | 15 | 0.262 | -82.0 |
| 1907 | CHC | NL | 3 | 10 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.100 | -82.0 |
| 1908 | BSN | NL | 127 | 418 | 44 | 102 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 40 | 17 | 45 | 25 | 0.244 | 239.9 |
| 1909 | BSN | NL | 138 | 493 | 44 | 120 | 19 | 3 | 1 | 36 | 25 | 37 | 22 | 0.243 | -340.7 |
| 1910 | BSN | NL | 150 | 499 | 43 | 133 | 22 | 4 | 5 | 46 | 25 | 61 | 28 | 0.267 | 1012.2 |
| 1911 | BSN | NL | 137 | 523 | 92 | 164 | 33 | 6 | 3 | 63 | 33 | 77 | 26 | 0.314 | 2144.5 |
| 1912 | BSN | NL | 153 | 593 | 84 | 204 | 31 | 13 | 1 | 100 | 27 | 68 | 34 | 0.344 | 2989.9 |
| 1913 | BSN | NL | 139 | 502 | 65 | 129 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 47 | 18 | 66 | 50 | 0.257 | 93.9 |
| 1914 | CHC | NL | 134 | 463 | 45 | 101 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 38 | 18 | 53 | 15 | 0.218 | -1041.4 |
Fielding Statistics
Career Fielding Totals by Position
| Position | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1B | 18 | 16 | 172 | 16 | 4 | 19 |
| 2B | 566 | 5 | 1448 | 1717 | 169 | 220 |
| 3B | 279 | 276 | 405 | 625 | 95 | 35 |
| OF | 11 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| SS | 157 | 147 | 319 | 430 | 77 | 67 |
Season-by-Season Fielding
| Year | Team | Pos | G | GS | PO | A | E | DP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1907 | BSN | 1B | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1907 | BSN | 2B | 5 | 5 | 14 | 13 | 3 | 1 |
| 1907 | BSN | 3B | 23 | 22 | 36 | 52 | 13 | 5 |
| 1907 | BSN | SS | 15 | 11 | 19 | 38 | 4 | 3 |
| 1907 | BSN | OF | 11 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 0 |
| 1907 | CHN | SS | 3 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 0 |
| 1908 | BSN | 2B | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1908 | BSN | 3B | 123 | 121 | 174 | 277 | 34 | 14 |
| 1908 | BSN | SS | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1909 | BSN | 3B | 112 | 111 | 156 | 243 | 43 | 14 |
| 1909 | BSN | SS | 26 | 26 | 66 | 83 | 9 | 12 |
| 1910 | BSN | 1B | 17 | 16 | 168 | 16 | 4 | 19 |
| 1910 | BSN | 3B | 21 | 22 | 39 | 53 | 5 | 2 |
| 1910 | BSN | SS | 110 | 108 | 232 | 300 | 57 | 52 |
| 1911 | BSN | 2B | 136 | 0 | 372 | 410 | 46 | 61 |
| 1912 | BSN | 2B | 153 | 0 | 459 | 475 | 40 | 76 |
| 1913 | BSN | 2B | 137 | 0 | 301 | 391 | 45 | 42 |
| 1914 | CHN | 2B | 134 | 0 | 301 | 426 | 35 | 40 |
Career Games by Position
| Position | Games |
|---|---|
| First Base | 18 |
| Second Base | 566 |
| Third Base | 281 |
| Shortstop | 157 |
| Left Field | 9 |
| Center Field | 1 |
| Right Field | 2 |
Award Voting History
| Year | Award | League | Finish | Points Won | Points Max | Votes First |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 13th | 6.0 | 64 | 0 |
| 1912 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 6th | 16.0 | 64 | 0 |
| 1911 | Most Valuable Player | NL | 21th | 3.0 | 64 | 0 |