Evening Republican, Volume 17, Number 155, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 June 1913 — ONE OF BEST GUARDIANS OF SECOND BAG [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ONE OF BEST GUARDIANS OF SECOND BAG

William J. Sweeney, the star second baseman of the Boston Nationals, was born in Covington, Ky., March 6, 1886. He was a student at the St Francis Xavier college, Cincinnati, Ohio, from 1902 to 1904, and a member of the college baseball nine. “Bill” was slated for the priesthood, but stuck to baseball instead, and in the fall of 1904 joined the Toledo club. The following season found him with the Rock Island, 111., team, the Islanders selling him to the Portland club of the Pacific coast league, where be played in 1906. He was drafted by the Chicago Cubs for the season of 1907, and after taking part in fifty-seven games was traded by the Cubs to Boston for Del Howard. Since joining the Braves Sweeney has become one of the greatest ball players in the game. He is not only one of the best guardians of the second station, but is a corking good hitter as well. In 1911 he had a batting average of .314, and in 1912 he stood third in the National league list with a batting average of .344.

Bill Sweeney of Boston Braves.