In 1884 Sweeney won 41 games, helping pitch two major league clubs to pennants. After
winning
17 for Providence (NL), he was expelled from the league for leaving the field in
the middle of a game, and promptly signed with St. Louis in the rival Union Association,
where he won 24. With Providence on June 7, he struck out 19 Boston batters to set
a ML record for a nine-inning game that, though tied four times, was not broken until
Roger Clemens struck out 20 in 1986. In 1894 Sweeney killed a man in a San Francisco
saloon. Sentenced to prison, he died there eight years later.
(FIC)
FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY
»May 3rd, 1884: Charlie Sweeney gets off to a good start by throwing a one-hitter to lead Providence (NL) to a 3-0 win over Buffalo.
»June 7th, 1884: Charlie Sweeney of Providence (NL) strikes out 19 Boston Red Stockings to establish a ML record for a 9-inning game. It will be tied one month later but not broken until Roger Clemens fans 20 on April 29, 1986. Providence's 2-1 win moves it into first place, but Boston will take the next 4 from the Grays to regain the lead.
»July 10th, 1884: Hugh "One Arm" Daily of Chicago (UA), having tied Charlie Sweeney's one-game record of 19 strikeouts in his previous outing July 7th, becomes the first ML pitcher to hurl consecutive one-hitters, defeating Boston 2-1. By season's end Daily will have hurled 4 one-hitters, a ML record equaled by Grover Alexander in 1915.
»October 5th, 1884: St. Louis (UA) pitchers Charlie Sweeney and Henry Boyle stop St. Paul without a hit or walk, striking out 9 men, before rain halts play after 5 innings. But the Maroons lose the game when 2 St. Louis errors allow the game's only run. The Sweeney-Boyle performance caps what is still the premier ML season for no-hitters: 12 in all, including one of 10 innings and 7 nine-inning games.
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