Charles Joseph Sweeney

Charles Joseph Sweeney (April 13, 1863 – April 4, 1902) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher from 1883 through 1887.

He played for the Providence Grays, St. Louis Maroons, and Cleveland Blues, and is best known for his performance in 1884, when he won 41 games.

Sweeney was born to Irish immigrants Edward and Mary Sweeney in San Francisco, California. The Sweeneys were Irish immigrants who had come to the states around 1850 (their first child, Edward, was born in New York in 1851). Soon after, they made the cross-country trek to California where Edward the elder found work as a police officer in San Francisco. Edward Sweeney was a hard-drinking, pugnacious man whose record as a policeman shows a number of incidents where he used excessive force both on and off duty.

Over the next two decades the couple welcomed Mary, Rebecca, Margaret, James, Charles, Elizabeth, Francis, John, and William to the family. The children received minimal schooling before joining the work force or marrying. The 1880 census lists Charlie as a butcher’s apprentice.

Sweeney made a name for himself on the sandlots of the Bay Area. He was described as “a large man…of great strength and endurance.”3 At 5-feet-10-inches and 181 pounds, he certainly fit the description. As a 17-year-old, he debuted with the San Francisco Athletics. The local paper noted he had “good command of the ball,” but lacked the insight that experience gives a player.4 In addition to pitching, he played outfield and first base and frequently batted cleanup.

He started his professional career in 1881 with the San Francisco Athletics of the California League. Sweeney is often incorrectly listed as playing one game with the National League’s Providence Grays in 1882; he did not join the team until 1883 That season, he pitched 146.2 innings for the Grays and had a 7–7 win–loss record and a 3.13 earned run average (ERA).

Sweeney finished his major league career with a record of 64–52. He then moved on to play for various teams in the California League from 1888 to 1892.

Return to California

After returning to San Francisco, Sweeney went into business with his friend, baseball player James Augustus McDonald (August 6, 1860 – September 14, 1914), and married McDonald’s sister Jennie.

Shot Con McManus

In July 1894, Sweeney shot and killed a Con McManus in a fight. The case went to trial, and Sweeney was found guilty of voluntary manslaughter and sentenced to eight years in prison.

Pardoned

He was pardoned and released in March 1898 after it was acknowledge that one of the witness’s at his trial had perjured himself.

Trouble Again

He then began working as an umpire in the California League, and in August he got into an argument at a game, assaulted someone, and was arrested.

Death

Sweeney suffered from tuberculosis during the last years of his life. He died in San Francisco in 3 Apr 1902, nine days short of his 39th birthday. He is interred at Cypress Lawn Memorial Park in Colma, California.

Baseball

• Positions: Pitcher, Outfielder and First Baseman
• Bats: Right
• Throws: Right
• 5-10, 181lb (178cm, 82kg)

MLB debut

May 11, 1882, for the Providence Grays

Last MLB appearance

July 9, 1887, for the Cleveland Blues

Teams

• Providence Grays (1883–1884)
• St. Louis Maroons (1884–1886)
• Cleveland Blues (1887)

Born

April 13, 1863 in San Francisco, CA US

Died

April 3, 1902 (Aged 38-355d) in San Francisco, CA

Buried

Cypress Lawn Memorial Park, Colma, CA