Bill Sweeney (sweenbi01)

William J. Sweeney

• Bats Unknown, Throws Right
• Height 5' 11", Weight 160 lb.

• Debut June 27, 1882
• Final Game October 14, 1884
• Born 1858, in Philadelphia, PA USA
• Died August 2, 1903 in Philadelphia, PA USA

BR page

Biographical Information

Bill Sweeney was a star in the 1884 Union Association, winning 40 games as a pitcher. He had previously pitched for the 1882 Philadelphia Athletics in the first season of the American Association.

In 2009 at a SABR regional meeting there was a presentation on Sweeney's 18-strikeout game in 1884 site.

Sweeney's 374 strikeouts in 1884 put him in the top ten of all time for single-season strikeouts, although several of the pitchers above him on the list also achieved their totals in 1884.

Although born in Philly, he was playing in San Francisco by 1879-80.

He is not to be confused with a couple other players of the same name who came after him.

Notable Achievements

• UA Wins Leader (1884)
• UA Games Pitched Leader (1884)
• UA Innings Pitched Leader (1884)
• UA Complete Games Leader (1884)
• 20 Wins Seasons: 1 (1884)
• 30 Wins Seasons: 1 (1884)
• 40 Wins Seasons: 1 (1884)
• 200 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1884)
• 300 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1884)
• 400 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1884)
• 500 Innings Pitched Seasons: 1 (1884)
• 200 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (1884)
• 300 Strikeouts Seasons: 1 (1884)