Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame

Class of 2015

Mike Sweeney

 

  • 5x American League All-Star first baseman for the Kansas City Royals, team captain (2003-07)

  • Career .297 hitter with 215 home runs, 909 RBI and 759 runs scored. Holds Royals record with RBI in a season (144) in 2000

  • Ranks 2nd in average (.299) and home runs (197) in club history

  • Currently special assistant to baseball operations for the Royals

  • Founder of the Mike & Shara Sweeney Family Foundation, a Catholic non-profit organization that encourages core family values among young athletes and unity between Catholics and Protestants

  • Proud of his Irish grandfather, John O'Shea, originally from Co. Cork.

Jack McKeon

 

  • Only manager to win more than 1,000 games in MLB and in the Minor Leagues

  • Twice was named NL Manager of the Year (1999,2003)

  • Led the Florida Marlins to a surprising World Series Championship over the Yankees in 2003

  • Oldest manager in baseball history to win a World Series

  • Author of two baseball books: Jack of All Trades (1988) and I'm Just Getting Started (w005)

  • Irish Roots in County Sligo

Shannon Forde

 

  • Joined the New York Mets as a media intern in January 1994

  • Graduate of St. John's University with a double degree in sports administration and psychology

  • Longtime member of Mets staff who is well loved and respected by sports media, as well be current and former Mets players and co-workers

  • Since being diagnosed with Stage IV Breast Cancer in 2012, has been active in raising awareness of funds for the disease

  • First female inductee in the Irish American Baseball Hall of Fame

  • Traces her Irish roots to Co. Meath. Husband John, was born and rasied in Co. Mayo

Dave O'Brien

 

  • Play-by-play commentator for ESPN's MLB Wednesday Night Baseball

  • Boston Red Sox radio play-by-play announcer

  • Famously called both of Barry Bonds' historic home runs #755 and #756 on ESPN

  • Won Achievements in Radio award for "Best Play-by-Play" call (1998)

  • Irish roots in County Clare

Bill Murray

 

  • Part-owner of the St. Paul Saints independent semi-pro baseball team, as well as the Charleston RiverDogs, Hudson Valley Renegades, and the Brockton Rox

  • Had two at-bats for the Grays Harbor Loggers of the Northwest League in 1978

  • Emmy Award winner (Writing) for Saturday Night Live (1977), Oscar nominee and Golden Globe winner (Best Actor) for Lost in Translation (2003)

  • Star of comedy classics such as Caddyshack, Ghostbusters, Stripes, Tootsie, Groundhog Day and What About Bob

  • Ancestral roots in Co. Cork and Co. Galway