Dale Sveum
Encyclopedia
Dale Curtis Sveum (ˈsweɪm ; born November 23, 1963, in Richmond, California
) is a former Major League Baseball
player and the current manager
of the Chicago Cubs
.
n quarterback
while attending Pinole Valley High School
, in addition to being a fine baseball player. Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers
in the 1st round (25th pick) of the 1982 amateur draft, he went on to play 12 seasons in MLB, hitting .236 with 69 home run
s.
Sveum's best season came in , when he hit 25 home runs and drove in
95 runs while batting mostly in the ninth spot
in the Brewers' lineup. On April 19 (Easter Sunday), he hit a walkoff home run at County Stadium
to give Milwaukee a 6–4 victory over the Texas Rangers
, their twelfth in a row. The moment is perhaps the greatest of Sveum's career, and the game one of the most remembered in Brewers history. Later that year, he enjoyed the best single game of his career when, on July 17, he hit three home runs and had six RBIs, leading his team to a 12–2 thumping of the California Angels
.
The following season, Sveum had a career-threatening collision with teammate Darryl Hamilton
in which his leg was broken. He missed the rest of the season and all of the season. He was never the same player after the incident, and was replaced on the Milwaukee roster by Gary Sheffield
.
During his career, Sveum had the distinction of playing for five separate managers who would, at some point in their careers, win a league Manager of the Year Award
. These managers were Tony La Russa
('83, '88, '92, '02), under whom Sveum played in Oakland, Joe Torre
('96, '98), in New York, Lou Piniella
('95, '01, '08), in Seattle, Jim Leyland
('90, '92, '06) in Pittsburgh, and Gene Lamont
('93) in Milwaukee and Pittsburgh.
organization from 2001–2003, compiling a 213-211 record. He was named Top Managerial Prospect in the Eastern League by Baseball America
in 2003.
Sveum was the third base coach for the Boston Red Sox
from 2004–05, working under manager (and former Brewers teammate) Terry Francona
, and was part of the 2004 World Series
championship team. In Boston, he was known for being aggressive with sending runners, though this often led to runners being thrown out at home plate. He left the Red Sox to rejoin the Brewers as the team's bench coach. On October 30, 2007, Sveum left his role as the Brewers' bench coach to become the team's third base coach. On September 15, 2008, he was named interim manager of the Milwaukee Brewers
after manager Ned Yost
was fired. As Ken Macha
took over the Brewers for the 2009 season, Sveum stayed on as the team's hitting coach.
On November 16, 2011 the Chicago Cubs offered Sveum their vacant managerial position. The following day, on November 17, 2011, Sveum accepted an offer to become the new manager of the Chicago Cubs
, and will reportedly be introduced on November 18, 2011.
Richmond, California
Richmond is a city in western Contra Costa County, California, United States. The city was incorporated on August 7, 1905. It is located in the East Bay, part of the San Francisco Bay Area. It is a residential inner suburb of San Francisco, as well as the site of heavy industry, which has been...
) is a former Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player and the current manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
.
Playing career
A talented athlete, Sveum was an All-State and All-AmericaAll-America
An All-America team is an honorary sports team composed of outstanding amateur players—those considered the best players of a specific season for each team position—who in turn are given the honorific "All-America" and typically referred to as "All-American athletes", or simply...
n quarterback
Quarterback
Quarterback is a position in American and Canadian football. Quarterbacks are members of the offensive team and line up directly behind the offensive line...
while attending Pinole Valley High School
Pinole Valley High School
Pinole Valley High School is a high school in Pinole, California, which is located in Contra Costa County. First opened in 1967, the school is part of the West Contra Costa Unified School District. Pinole Valley High serves grades 9–12, and has approximately 1,750 students.The school is noted for...
, in addition to being a fine baseball player. Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
in the 1st round (25th pick) of the 1982 amateur draft, he went on to play 12 seasons in MLB, hitting .236 with 69 home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
s.
Sveum's best season came in , when he hit 25 home runs and drove in
Run batted in
Runs batted in or RBIs is a statistic used in baseball and softball to credit a batter when the outcome of his at-bat results in a run being scored, except in certain situations such as when an error is made on the play. The first team to track RBI was the Buffalo Bisons.Common nicknames for an RBI...
95 runs while batting mostly in the ninth spot
Batting order (baseball)
The batting order, or batting lineup, in baseball is the sequence in which the nine members of the offense take their turns in batting against the pitcher. The batting order is the main component of a team's offensive strategy. The batting order is set by the manager before the game begins...
in the Brewers' lineup. On April 19 (Easter Sunday), he hit a walkoff home run at County Stadium
Milwaukee County Stadium
Milwaukee County Stadium was a ballpark in Milwaukee, Wisconsin from 1953 to 2000. It was primarily used as a baseball stadium for the Milwaukee Braves and Brewers, but was also used for football games, ice skating, religious services, concerts and other large events...
to give Milwaukee a 6–4 victory over the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, their twelfth in a row. The moment is perhaps the greatest of Sveum's career, and the game one of the most remembered in Brewers history. Later that year, he enjoyed the best single game of his career when, on July 17, he hit three home runs and had six RBIs, leading his team to a 12–2 thumping of the California Angels
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
.
The following season, Sveum had a career-threatening collision with teammate Darryl Hamilton
Darryl Hamilton
Darryl Quinn Hamilton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Milwaukee Brewers , Texas Rangers , San Francisco Giants , Colorado Rockies and New York Mets . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
in which his leg was broken. He missed the rest of the season and all of the season. He was never the same player after the incident, and was replaced on the Milwaukee roster by Gary Sheffield
Gary Sheffield
Gary Antonian Sheffield , nicknamed "Sheff", is an American retired Major League Baseball outfielder. He played for eight major league ball clubs from 1988 to 2009, primarily as an outfielder.-Biography:...
.
During his career, Sveum had the distinction of playing for five separate managers who would, at some point in their careers, win a league Manager of the Year Award
Manager of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Manager of the Year Award is an honor given annually since 1983 to the best managers in the American League and the National League . The winner is voted on by 28 members of the Baseball Writers Association of America . Each places a vote for first, second, and third...
. These managers were Tony La Russa
Tony La Russa
Anthony "Tony" La Russa, Jr. is a former Major League Baseball manager and infielder, best known for his tenures as manager of the Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals...
('83, '88, '92, '02), under whom Sveum played in Oakland, Joe Torre
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre is a former American professional baseball player and manager who currently serves as Major League Baseball’s Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations. A nine-time All-Star, he played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, first baseman and a third baseman for the...
('96, '98), in New York, Lou Piniella
Lou Piniella
Louis Victor Piniella is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He has been nicknamed "Sweet Lou," both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager...
('95, '01, '08), in Seattle, Jim Leyland
Jim Leyland
James Richard "Jim" Leyland is a Major League Baseball manager, currently with the Detroit Tigers.He led the Florida Marlins to a World Series championship in 1997, and previously won three straight division titles with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
('90, '92, '06) in Pittsburgh, and Gene Lamont
Gene Lamont
Gene William Lamont is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball who managed the Chicago White Sox and Pittsburgh Pirates . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
('93) in Milwaukee and Pittsburgh.
Coaching career
Prior to coaching in Milwaukee, Sveum managed the Double A team in the Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
organization from 2001–2003, compiling a 213-211 record. He was named Top Managerial Prospect in the Eastern League by Baseball America
Baseball America
Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...
in 2003.
Sveum was the third base coach for the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
from 2004–05, working under manager (and former Brewers teammate) Terry Francona
Terry Francona
Terry Jon Francona , nicknamed "Tito," is a former Major League Baseball manager and a former player. He was a first baseman and outfielder in the majors from 1981 to 1990. After retiring as a player, he managed several minor league teams in the 1990s before managing the Philadelphia Phillies for...
, and was part of the 2004 World Series
2004 World Series
The 2004 World Series was the Major League Baseball championship series for the 2004 season. It was the 100th World Series and featured the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, against the National League champions, the St. Louis Cardinals...
championship team. In Boston, he was known for being aggressive with sending runners, though this often led to runners being thrown out at home plate. He left the Red Sox to rejoin the Brewers as the team's bench coach. On October 30, 2007, Sveum left his role as the Brewers' bench coach to become the team's third base coach. On September 15, 2008, he was named interim manager of the Milwaukee Brewers
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
after manager Ned Yost
Ned Yost
Edgar Frederick "Ned" Yost III is a former Major League Baseball catcher and current manager of the Kansas City Royals. He is the former manager of the Milwaukee Brewers.-Playing career:...
was fired. As Ken Macha
Ken Macha
Kenneth Edward Macha is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. During an 8-year managing career, he managed the Oakland Athletics , whom he guided to the American League's Western Division championship in both his first and final seasons with the team, and the Milwaukee Brewers...
took over the Brewers for the 2009 season, Sveum stayed on as the team's hitting coach.
On November 16, 2011 the Chicago Cubs offered Sveum their vacant managerial position. The following day, on November 17, 2011, Sveum accepted an offer to become the new manager of the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
, and will reportedly be introduced on November 18, 2011.