Mark Sweeney #8

Mark Patrick Sweeney...graduated from Holliston (MA) High School...single...was a finalist for the 1991 Golden Spikes Award, given annually to the top player in collegiate baseball...as senior at the University of Maine, batted .384 with 23 HRs, 80 RBI, and 22 stolen bases in 65 games...graduated with a business degree...was the Giants' 2006 nominee for the Hutch Award, which is named after former Major League pitcher and manager Fred Hutchinson and is given annually to the Major Leaguer who best exemplifies character, desire and fighting spirit...has served as the Giants' spokesman for the Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish Foundation...lent his services to teach a baseball skills clinic for children participating in Special Olympics in 2006...originally signed by Angels' scout Tony Lacana.

2007

Began the season with the Giants, but was acquired by the Dodgers on Aug. 9 in exchange for a player to be named later (Travis Denker)...batted .316 off the bench (24-for-76) and led the Major Leagues with 24 pinch-hits to give him 163 in his career, the second most in Major League history, behind former Dodger Lenny Harris (212)...surpassed former Dodger and pinch-hit champion Manny Mota during the season...the 24 pinch-hits were the most in a single-season in all of baseball since Harris had 26 in 1999...joined Smokey Burgess and Harris as the only Major Leaguers in the last 50 years to record two 20-pinch-hit seasons...Sweeney had 22 pinch-hits while splitting time between the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres in 1997...collected his first hit as a Dodger with a pinch-hit single against the Astros on Aug. 13...hit .260 with two homers and 13 RBI in 106 games combined between the Giants and Dodgers...hit .273 with three RBI in Los Angeles, including a .296 average (8-for-27) as a pinch-hitter...batted .400 (6-for-15) in the month of July...at home (Dodger Stadium and AT&T Park), batted .345 (19-for-55) compared to a .191 mark on the road in the National League...hit .571 (8-for-14) when putting the first pitch in play...appeared in games at first base, left field and right field during the season and did not commit any errors...his acquisition marked the first time the Dodgers and Giants had orchestrated a trade since Dec. 11, 1985, when Los Angeles sent outfielder Candy Maldonado to San Francisco in exchange for catcher Alex Trevino..it was the first in-season trade between the two teams since April 14, 1972 when the Dodgers acquired Dick Dietz from San Francisco in exchange for cash...will enter 2008 as the Major Leagues' active leader in pinch-hit home runs (15) and RBI (97).

2006

Free-agent signee provided SF with depth and versatility, making 60 starts among his 114 appearances...garnered 47 starts at 1B and 13 in LF, while he hit .254 (54-for-213) with 12 2Bs, five HRs and 29 RBI in those contests...raised his game in clutch spots, batting .290 (20-for-69) with RISP...led SF with eight pinch-hits and seven pinch-RBI, but hit just .205 in that role (39 at-bats)...picked opportune time for first SF clout, tying April 17 game at Arizona with two-run, eighth inning clout off Jose Valverde...Giants went on to post 10-9 triumph.

2005

Enjoyed career year during third go-round with Padres, establishing career highs with .294 avg., 134 games, 221 at-bats, 65 hits, 12 2Bs and 40 RBI...also belted eight HRs, while logging .395 on-base pct....tied for 4th in NL with 18 pinch hits, fourth-highest single-season total in San Diego franchise history...batted .303 (61-for-201) off right-handed pitchers, while hitting at .290 clip (18-for-62) with RISP...stole home July 6 at Houston, first Padre to do so since Phil Nevin Sept. 8, 2002... saw action in all three games of NLDS loss to St. Louis, going 2-for-3 with two walks and 2B.

2004

Had productive season with Colorado, producing career-best nine HRs, 40 RBI and prolific pinch-hitting numbers...belted ML-leading five pinch-hit HRs, tied for fourth-highest total in baseball history...only pinch-hitters with more clouts were Craig Wilson (seven in 2001), Dave Hansen (seven in 2000) and Johnny Frederick (six in 1932)...also led majors with 23 pinch-RBI, two shy of tying ML single-season record and most since Padres' Graig Nettles also drove in 23 in 1988...led big leagues with 82 pinch-hit appearances, while 16 hits tied for third...recorded 100th career pinch-hit in second game of May 1 doubleheader vs. Atlanta...hammered first career grand slam Sept. 7 vs. SF, fittingly in pinch-hit role, off Jason Schmidt.

2003

Was non-roster invitee to Spring Training with Colorado, and opened season at Triple-A Colorado Springs...had contract purchased May 1, and went on to rank fourth in Majors with 13 pinch-hits...batted .295 (44 at-bats) in role.

2002

Went to camp with Mets after being acquired from Milwaukee in three-team, 11-player trade Jan. 21...was released and signed by San Diego halfway through Spring Training...opened year with Padres, but struggled to .169 avg. in 48 games...was released July 13, signed month later with Triple-A Portland, but asked for and was granted release Aug. 16.

2001

Spent first four months of season with Triple-A Indianapolis in Brewers' chain, batting .287 with 34 2Bs and 69 RBI in 109 games...was recalled by Milwaukee Aug. 1, and batted .258 over 48 ML contests.

2000

Opened season on Milwaukee's 15-day Disabled List with tear to semitendinosis tendon in right knee...was activated May 7...led Brewers with 10 pinch-hits, becoming just eighth player in franchise history to record 10 or more hits off bench...54 pinch-hit at-bats tied Bob Hamelin's 1998 club record...logged second DL stint July 18-Aug. 14 with tendinitis in right rotator cuff.

1999

Ranked fourth in NL with .355 avg. (11-for-31) as pinch-hitter during lone season with Cincinnati...played in 37 games, with 36 coming in pinch-hit role... began season with Reds, but was optioned to triple-A Indianapolis May 16...was recalled Sept. 1.

1998

Established then-career highs with 122 games and 192 at-bats for NL champion Padres...made 35 starts in RF (19 games), first base (13), LF (2) and DH (1)...went 2-for-6 with two walks and RBI in eight contests, all as pinchhitter, during Friars' run to World Series... both hits came in Fall Classic against Yankees, including eighth-inning RBI-single in Game 2 at Yankee Stadium.

1997

Led Majors with 22 pinch hits between St. Louis and San Diego, batting robust .367 with 2 HRs and 14 RBI over 60 at-bats in role...also hit at .327 clip (18-for-55) with RISP...was acquired by Padres in six-player deal June 13...tallied Padres' lone hit Aug. 14 vs. Cincinnati, breaking up Mike Morgan's perfect game bid with one-out, seventh inning single.

1996

In first full big league season, batted .265 over 98 contests (35 starts) for Cardinals...was simply tremendous in clutch, batting .444 (16-for-36) with RISP...ranked second on club with nine pinch hits, while finishing second in NL with seven walks in pinch situations...saw action in six playoff games for Redbirds team that advanced to NLCS, going 1-for-5.

1995

Opened season in Angels' organization, batting .345 with 59 RBI in 69 games for triple-A Vancouver...was acquired by St. Louis July 7, and after .368 showing in 22 games for Triple-A Louisville, had contract purchased by Cardinals Aug. 4...made ML debut that same day vs. Cubs, going 0-for-4 with RBI...tallied first big league hit Aug. 5, single off Cubs' Jim Bullinger...belted first ML HR Aug. 10 at LA, solo shot off Dodgers' Hideo Nomo...immediately showed acumen as pinch-hitter, going 8-for-15 (.588)...had seven-game hitting streak as pinch-hitter Sept. 5-23, 1 game shy of ML record held by Dave Philley (1958 Phillies) and Rusty Staub (1983 Mets).

1994

Helped Vancouver reach PCL championship, batting .285 with eight HRs and 49 RBI in 103 games.

1993

Batted combined .356 (154-for-433) in 117 games for Single-A Palm Springs and Double-A Midland.

1992

Ranked second in Midwest League with career-high 14 HRs at Single-A Quad City...also collected career-best 76 RBI, while batting .271 in 120 contests.

1991

Made professional debut with Single-A Boise.