Sweeney also played for the Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, and Philadelphia Phillies. He worked prime time slots on the station from 1981 into the late 1990s while branching out into interviewing, sports reportage and documentaries. Michael Thomas "Mike" Sweeney (born 15 September 1947 in Salford, Greater Manchester, England) is a broadcaster and radio DJ, Sweeney attended Mount Carmel School in Salford, after which he worked at Associated Electrical Industries in Trafford Park. Sweeney was offended and launched his batting helmet at Weaver while charging the pitcher's mound. He always signs autographs for all the fans who ask for one before and after games whether on the field or in the parking lot. With this new position, my goal is do as much as I can to help the Royals get back to being one of the prized organizations in baseball, as it was in the 1980s. He was then offered a 12-show trial as one of the station's disc jockeys; it was thought that his Salford accent would go down well with local audiences.

It is awarded annually in Seattle in January. On September 29, 2007, the day before his final game, Sweeney took out a full page ad in the sports section of The Kansas City Star.[16]. Paul Byrd was one of the first to aid Sweeney as he held back the Tigers catcher so that Sweeney could reach Weaver. Other Works

|  On June 13, 2007, Mike and his wife Shara hosted the Lunch for Life[24] and raised $60,000 for the crisis pregnancy centers throughout Kansas City. He now works as a special assistant for the Kansas City Royals. Teammate Ken Griffey Jr. was accused of napping during a pinch hitting opportunity, also known as "Napgate". On July 22, 2004, Sweeney hit a grand slam and later hit an insurance three-run home run in a 13–7 Kansas City win. He teams up annually with former Kansas City Chiefs' running back Tony Richardson to host the Sweeney-Richardson Golf Classic, which benefits a faith-based outreach program and The 25-game hitting streak is tied for third longest in Royals history with George Brett's 25-game streak in 1983, trailing only Brett's 30-game streak in 1980 and José Offerman's 27-game streak in 1998. Sweeney appeared with James Caviezel, Patricia Heaton, Jeff Suppan, and Kurt Warner.

On January 29, 2009, Sweeney signed a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training with the Seattle Mariners,[6] citing his desire to play for Mariners' manager Don Wakamatsu who was Sweeney's bench coach in Oakland. Since leaving the Kansas City Royals his Number 29 has been left out of circulation leading some to believe the Royals might end up retiring his number one day. He finished second in the league with a club record 144 RBI, behind only Seattle's Edgar Martínez's 145 RBI, and breaking Hal McRae's 1982 team mark of 133. In February 2014, the Kansas City Royals announced that they had hired Sweeney as a special assistant to baseball operations. Sweeney was hitting .347 on September 24 before going 2-for-16 in his final four games.

It was in response to a pro-embryonic research advertisement featuring actor Michael J. He was named The Variety Children's Charity Radio Industry Legend in 2012.

On March 25, 2011 Sweeney signed a one-day contract with the Kansas City Royals and retired. Sweeney is also the advisory chairman of the Catholic Athletes for Christ and spokesman for Life Teen, the largest Catholic youth ministry program in the United States. invites area charity and non-profit groups to attend Royals games as part of the "Sween Team". But as with many professional athletes, when he entered retirement, the sudden shift in lifestyle brought new opportunities and new problems -- especially in his marriage to wife Shara. Sweeney said he challenged anyone who said Griffey was asleep "to stand up and fight me", however, Griffey did not deny it.[12]. Sweeney would hit .263 with 6 home runs and 18 RBI during his time with the Mariners in 2010.

He then joined Rock Radio (later Real XS) to host the breakfast programme and The Million Sellers Show on Smooth '70s. He would continue to have injury problems throughout the rest of his career, including a lengthy DL stint during the 2003 season with the Royals seeking their first winning season since the strike-shortened 1994 season where they went 64–51. [20], He was named the 2003 and 2004 Good Guy in Sports by the Sporting News. In May 2010, Sweeney was involved in an interesting situation. On March 30 the Mariners placed reserve 1st baseman/corner outfielder Ryan Garko on waivers, clearing room on the 25-man roster for Sweeney.

Sweeney was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career on July 26, 2002 (retroactive to July 14) with a lower back and hip strain. [22][23], Before the 2009 season, the Royals organization created the Mike Sweeney Award which recognizes a player best representing the organization on and off the field.[5]. [7] Sweeney made the major-league club Opening Day roster as a bench player. (September 9) Released by the Oakland Athletics. Sweeney played his first 13 seasons in the majors with the Kansas City Royals, first as a catcher, then at first base and designated hitter.

He would go on to bat .287 with 22 home runs and 79 RBI during the 2004 season. He presented the weekday drivetime slot until the summer of 2009. The seven RBI would be a career-high for Sweeney. He stated in a report on MLB.com that the few possessions that they took for safekeeping were their marriage certificate, three wedding photographs, birth certificates, and two pictures of his children with Pope Benedict, taken while they were in Rome last year. Sweeney won the Hutch Award, which honors players who exemplify a fighting spirit, honoring Fred Hutchinson, who died of cancer in 1964. 72 in the UK Singles Charts in 1980. His stolen base came on a 1-2 count with left-hander Aaron Guiel at the plate and gave the Royals a 2–1 lead, but KC lost the game, 3–2, in 14 innings. [21], Sweeney is known all around Kansas City for being very polite and friendly towards all fans. [3], On February 10, 2008, Sweeney signed a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training, with the Oakland Athletics.[4]. In 2010, Sweeney spoke to the National Catholic Register about his Catholic faith.[25]. Sweeney had "Lose My Soul" by Toby Mac played over the stadium sound system at Citizens Bank Park when he came up to bat. On October 24, 2006, he was featured in a political advertisement opposing an embryonic stem cell research bill in Missouri. [2008], Debuted at 1st base for the Philadelphia Phillies. On April 22, 2009, Sweeney left the game during his first at-bat due to back spasms.

He had a chance of winning the A.L. No, Mike Sweeney is nicest guy in sports, Royals’ Mike Sweeney relies on faith in Christ, The Mike and Shara Sweeney Family Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mike_Sweeney&oldid=946190874, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, September 14, 1995, for the Kansas City Royals, October 3, 2010, for the Philadelphia Phillies, Career statistics and player information from, This page was last edited on 18 March 2020, at 17:29. On November 9, 2002, Mike married Shara Nettles, the daughter of former major leaguer Jim Nettles, niece of Graig Nettles. He missed hitting for the cycle by about 40 feet, when he retreated to second base on what appeared to be a sure triple in the eighth inning with the Kansas City Royals leading by a 12-6 score. [1], Sweeney and his wife have lived in Uppermill since 1997.[2]. Publicity Listings In June 2001, Sweeney hit .392 with 11 home runs and 29 RBI with a .794 slugging percentage and was named the American League Player of the Month for the only time in his career. |  For the American musician, see.