Rick Sweet
Encyclopedia
Ricky Joe Sweet is a former professional baseball
catcher
. He played three seasons in Major League Baseball
between 1978 and 1983, and has since had a long career as minor
and major league coach and minor league manager. He is currently the manager of the Louisville Bats
, the top farm club of the Cincinnati Reds
.
by the San Diego Padres
. He spent six seasons in their organization, including one full season with the major league club in 1978, when he split time behind the plate with Gene Tenace
. He batted .221 in 88 games.
In 1979 he was replaced by Bill Fahey
, who had been acquired from the Texas Rangers
. On his 1979 Topps baseball card, Rick is laughing. This is because teammate and friend Gene Tenace
asked him jokingly how it felt hitting only one home run, which Rick started laughing and the photographer snapped the pic and it was placed on his baseball card.
After two seasons with the Triple-A Hawaii Islanders
minor league team, Sweet's contract was purchased from the Padres by the New York Mets
. He spent another full season at Triple-A in 1981, this time with the Tidewater Tides, then opened the 1982 with the Mets. He played just three games in the first six weeks of the season before having his contract sold to the Seattle Mariners
, where he was made their starting catcher.
In both 1982 and 1983, Sweet played more games behind the plate than any other Mariners' catcher, appearing in a total of 181 games, batting .238. In November 1983, the Mariners acquired catcher Bob Kearney
from the Oakland Athletics
in a trade, and Sweet was released in March. Rather than return to the minor leagues, Sweet retired, and was named the Mariners' bullpen coach.
. He spent one more season managing in the Seattle organization with the Wausau Timbers
, then moved to the Houston Astros
system to manage the Osceola Astros
.
Over the next seven seasons, Sweet moved his way up the Astros chain. In 1993, while managing the Triple-A Tucson Toros
, he won his first championship, as the Toros won the Pacific Coast League
title. By 1996, he was named to the Astros' coaching staff under manager Terry Collins
. After one season as Houston's first base coach, he was let go along with Collins, and landed in the New York Mets
organization for 1997.
After a season managing the Binghamton Mets
, Sweet changed organizations once more, moving on to manage the Harrisburg Senators
, the Double-A farm team of the Montreal Expos
. In 1998, Sweet won his second league championship as a manager, leading Harrisburg to the Eastern League title.
Over the next several years, Sweet continued to manage, moving from the Expos organization to the Padres' system in 2001, the Detroit Tigers
system for a season in 2004, and then finally the Reds' organization in 2005, when he was named to his current position as manager of their Triple-A farm team, the Louisville Bats
. He led the team to three straight Western Division titles (2008-10) and was named the International League
Manager of the Year in 2008 and 2009.
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
catcher
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
. He played three seasons in 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...
between 1978 and 1983, and has since had a long career as minor
Minor league baseball
Minor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
and major league coach and minor league manager. He is currently the manager of the Louisville Bats
Louisville Bats
The Louisville Bats, which play in Louisville, Kentucky, are the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team, formerly known as the Louisville RiverBats, plays in the International League...
, the top farm club of the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
.
Playing career
Sweet was drafted in the 3rd round of the secondary phase of the 1975 Major League Baseball Draft1975 Major League Baseball Draft
-First round selections:The following are the first round picks in the 1975 Major League Baseball draft..Many baseball draft experts consider the 1975 draft to be the weakest in MLB history.- External links :*- References :...
by the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
. He spent six seasons in their organization, including one full season with the major league club in 1978, when he split time behind the plate with Gene Tenace
Gene Tenace
Fury Gene Tenace , better known as Gene Tenace, is a former Italian-American professional baseball player and current coach in Major League Baseball. He was a catcher and first baseman from through . Tenace was drafted by the Kansas City Athletics from Valley High School in Lucasville, OH and...
. He batted .221 in 88 games.
In 1979 he was replaced by Bill Fahey
Bill Fahey
William Roger Fahey is a former catcher in professional baseball who played for the Washington Senators/Texas Rangers , San Diego Padres and Detroit Tigers . Fahey batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
, who had been acquired from 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...
. On his 1979 Topps baseball card, Rick is laughing. This is because teammate and friend Gene Tenace
Gene Tenace
Fury Gene Tenace , better known as Gene Tenace, is a former Italian-American professional baseball player and current coach in Major League Baseball. He was a catcher and first baseman from through . Tenace was drafted by the Kansas City Athletics from Valley High School in Lucasville, OH and...
asked him jokingly how it felt hitting only one home run, which Rick started laughing and the photographer snapped the pic and it was placed on his baseball card.
After two seasons with the Triple-A Hawaii Islanders
Hawaii Islanders
The Hawaii Islanders were a AAA minor league baseball team, based in Honolulu, Hawaii, that played in the Pacific Coast League from 1961 through 1987. The Islanders were originally an affiliate of the Kansas City Athletics. They played their home games at Honolulu Stadium, Honolulu's Aloha Stadium...
minor league team, Sweet's contract was purchased from the Padres by the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
. He spent another full season at Triple-A in 1981, this time with the Tidewater Tides, then opened the 1982 with the Mets. He played just three games in the first six weeks of the season before having his contract sold to the Seattle Mariners
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are a professional baseball team based in Seattle, Washington. Enfranchised in , the Mariners are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Safeco Field has been the Mariners' home ballpark since July...
, where he was made their starting catcher.
In both 1982 and 1983, Sweet played more games behind the plate than any other Mariners' catcher, appearing in a total of 181 games, batting .238. In November 1983, the Mariners acquired catcher Bob Kearney
Bob Kearney
Robert Henry Kearney , is a former American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the San Francisco Giants, Oakland Athletics, and Seattle Mariners from to ....
from the Oakland Athletics
Oakland Athletics
The Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
in a trade, and Sweet was released in March. Rather than return to the minor leagues, Sweet retired, and was named the Mariners' bullpen coach.
Post-playing career
After spending 1984 as a Mariners coach, he was moved into the scouting department for the next two seasons. In 1987, Sweet was named to his first managerial post, with the Bellingham Mariners of the Northwest LeagueNorthwest League
The Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Class A-Short Season minor baseball league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
. He spent one more season managing in the Seattle organization with the Wausau Timbers
Wausau Timbers
The Wausau Timbers were a minor league baseball team.The team began as the Wausau Mets in 1978, but left the affiliation with the New York Mets and went co-op...
, then moved to the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
system to manage the Osceola Astros
Osceola Astros
The Osceola Astros were a minor league baseball team that existed from 1985 to 1994. They played in the Florida State League and were affiliated with the Houston Astros. They were based in Kissimmee, Florida, making them the first professional baseball team from Kissimmee...
.
Over the next seven seasons, Sweet moved his way up the Astros chain. In 1993, while managing the Triple-A Tucson Toros
Tucson Toros
The Tucson Toros are a professional baseball team based in Tucson, Arizona, in the United States. They are owned by Tucson Baseball, LLC with Jay Zucker as chairman of the board. Sean Smock is the team's general manager....
, he won his first championship, as the Toros won the Pacific Coast League
Pacific Coast League
The Pacific Coast League is a minor-league baseball league operating in the Western, Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball.The...
title. By 1996, he was named to the Astros' coaching staff under manager Terry Collins
Terry Collins
Terry Lee Collins is the manager for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball. A former minor league shortstop, Collins managed the Albuquerque Dukes of the Pacific Coast League, the Buffalo Bisons of the International League, the Duluth Huskies of the summer collegiate Northwoods League, and...
. After one season as Houston's first base coach, he was let go along with Collins, and landed in the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
organization for 1997.
After a season managing the Binghamton Mets
Binghamton Mets
The Binghamton Mets are a U.S. minor league baseball team based in Binghamton, New York. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the New York Mets major-league club...
, Sweet changed organizations once more, moving on to manage the Harrisburg Senators
Harrisburg Senators
The Harrisburg Senators are a minor league baseball team based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The team, which plays in the Eastern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals....
, the Double-A farm team of the Montreal Expos
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
. In 1998, Sweet won his second league championship as a manager, leading Harrisburg to the Eastern League title.
Over the next several years, Sweet continued to manage, moving from the Expos organization to the Padres' system in 2001, the Detroit Tigers
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
system for a season in 2004, and then finally the Reds' organization in 2005, when he was named to his current position as manager of their Triple-A farm team, the Louisville Bats
Louisville Bats
The Louisville Bats, which play in Louisville, Kentucky, are the AAA minor league baseball affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds. The team, formerly known as the Louisville RiverBats, plays in the International League...
. He led the team to three straight Western Division titles (2008-10) and was named the International League
International League
The International League is a minor league baseball league that operates in the eastern United States. Like the Pacific Coast League and the Mexican League, it plays at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League Baseball. It was so named because it had teams in both the United States...
Manager of the Year in 2008 and 2009.