Dale Sveum

Dale Curtis Sveum (/ˈsweɪm/ SWAYM; born November 23, 1963) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) player and manager. He most recently served as the bench coach for the Kansas City Royals. As a player, Sveum saw action in 12 major league seasons between 1986 and 1999. He was a member of the Milwaukee Brewers, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, and New York Yankees. Following his playing career, Sveum managed in minor league baseball for several seasons before becoming an MLB coach. Sveum briefly served as manager of the Brewers in 2008 during his tenure as hitting coach for the team. He was later named manager of the Cubs after the 2011 season and served for two seasons. His cousin is former Blue Jays All-Star John Olerud.

Dale Sveum
Sveum (right) as Cubs manager in 2013 with Blackhawks coach Joel Quenneville
Shortstop / Third baseman / Manager
Born: (1963-11-23) November 23, 1963
Richmond, California, U.S.
Batted: Switch
Threw: Right
MLB debut
May 12, 1986, for the Milwaukee Brewers
Last MLB appearance
October 3, 1999, for the Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB statistics
Batting average.236
Home runs69
Runs batted in340
Managerial record134–202
Winning %.399
Teams
As player
As manager
As coach
Career highlights and awards

Playing career

During his time at Pinole Valley High School, Sveum was recognized as an All-State and All-American quarterback,[1] in addition to playing baseball and basketball. Drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first round (25th pick) of the 1982 amateur draft, he went on to play 12 seasons in MLB, hitting .236 with 69 home runs.[1][2]

Arguably, Sveum's finest season came in 1987, when he hit 25 home runs and drove in 95 runs, mostly as the Brewers' ninth hitter in the lineup. One of his personal highlights came early in the season, when he hit a walk-off home run at County Stadium to give Milwaukee a 6–4 victory over the Texas Rangers. This victory, which came on April 19 (Easter Sunday), led the Brewers to a 12–0 record on the season.[1][3]

On July 17, 1987, Sveum totaled three homers and six RBIs during a 12–2 thumping of the California Angels.[1]

On September 3, 1988, Sveum was involved in a severe collision with fellow Brewer Darryl Hamilton. Sveum's leg was broken and he did not play again in 1988. He also sat out the entire 1989 MLB season,[1] while seeing action in 17 games in the minor leagues.[4]

In his first three major league seasons, Sveum's lowest yearly batting average was .242. Following his return to the majors in 1990, he only batted over .241 twice in parts of nine seasons.[2]

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:[1]

Coaching career

Pittsburgh
Sveum as third base coach for the Brewers in 2006

Prior to coaching in Milwaukee, Sveum managed the Double A team in the Pittsburgh Pirates organization from 2001–2003, compiling a 213–211 record. In 2003, Baseball America tabbed Sveum as the best potential MLB manager in the Eastern League.[1]

Boston Red Sox

Sveum was on the coaching staff of the Boston Red Sox from 2004–05, serving as third base coach[1] and working under manager (and former Brewers teammate) Terry Francona. Following Sveum's second season in Boston, he left the Red Sox to rejoin Milwaukee as the team's bench coach.[1]

Milwaukee Brewers

On October 30, 2007, Sveum switched positions on the staff and became the team's third base coach.[5]

On September 15, 2008, he was named interim manager of the Milwaukee Brewers after manager Ned Yost was fired.[1] Sveum led the team to a 7–5 record to close out the 2008 regular season,[6] which was enough for the Brewers to make the playoffs for the first time since their World Series run in 1982.[7] Under Sveum's leadership, the Brewers lost the 2008 NLDS to the Philadelphia Phillies in 4 games.[8]

As Ken Macha took over the Brewers for the 2009 season, Sveum stayed on as the team's hitting coach.

Chicago Cubs

On November 16, 2011 the Chicago Cubs offered Sveum their vacant managerial position.[9] The following day, on November 17, 2011, he accepted an offer to become the new manager of the Chicago Cubs, and was introduced on November 18, 2011.[10] Sveum was fired on September 30, 2013 after posting a record of 127-197 in two seasons with the Cubs.[11] On August 16, 2017, Sveum received a World Series ring from the team.[12]

Kansas City Royals

On October 3, 2013, the Kansas City Royals announced they had hired Sveum as a coach and infield instructor, reuniting him with Yost (serving as manager).[13]

On May 29, 2014, the Royals promoted Sveum to hitting coach in an effort to improve a lackluster offensive start to the season.[14]

Sveum departed the Royals when Yost retired from the team after the 2019 season.

Managerial record
Team From To Regular season record Post–season record
W L Win % W L Win %
Milwaukee Brewers 2008 2008 75.583 13.250
Chicago Cubs 2012 2013 127197.392 00–
Total 134202.399 13.250

References
  1. Muskat, Carrie (November 17, 2011). "Sveum's playing career derailed by leg injury". MLB.com. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  2. "Dale Sveum Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
  3. "April 19, 1987 Texas Rangers at Milwaukee Brewers Box Score and Play by Play". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  4. "Dale Sveum Minor League Statistics and History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2013-05-22.
  5. "Simmons named Brewers' bench coach; Sveum back at third base". ESPN.com. Associated Press. October 30, 2007. Retrieved October 30, 2007.
  6. "Dale Sveum Managerial Record". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  7. "Milwaukee Brewers Team History & Encyclopedia". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  8. "2008 Milwaukee Brewers Batting, Pitching & Fielding Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved May 22, 2013.
  9. Adams, Luke (November 16, 2011). "Cubs Offer Dale Sveum Position As Manager". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved November 17, 2011.
  10. Edes, Gordon (17 November 2011). "Dale Sveum is Cubs' new manager". ESPNBoston.com. ESPN. Retrieved 17 November 2011.
  11. "Cubs dismiss manager Sveum after 2 years". ESPN. September 30, 2013. Archived from the original on 2017-09-23. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  12. Stebbins, Tim (2017-08-16). "Why Cubs gave World Series rings to fired managers Dale Sveum and Rick Renteria | NBC Sports Chicago". Csnchicago.com. Retrieved 2020-04-15.
  13. "Royals hire fired Cubs manager Sveum". FOX Sports. October 3, 2013. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
  14. McCullough, Andy (May 29, 2014). "Punchless Royals name Dale Sveum as their new hitting coach". The Kansas City Star. Archived from the original on May 30, 2014. Retrieved February 3, 2021.
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