He could have sacrificed his values to achieve even bigger fame … but he chose a different path. Every once in a while, a professional athlete stands out among the crowd — but it’s usually for more than just a stellar sports career. One such athlete is Mike Sweeney, a former Major League Baseball player who played his first 13 years with the Kansas City Royals. While he never made it to the Hall of Fame using illicit means, Sweeney got something even better — his integrity, values, and devotion to what’s most important intact.
“The thing I’m most proud of is that I honored God with my career,” Sweeney says in the video, part of the Knights of Columbus Everyday Heroes series, referring to other players who used drugs and steroids. “I didn’t succumb to the pressure of the world because I knew it was wrong.”
Sweeney, who retired in 2011 and is now 45, is married with five kids, and in a new video he talks about the strong example of faith his own father set for him, and how he carried the Catholic faith and strong values into his own life and family.
Be sure to watch other videos from this series, including:
Meet the Young Man from New York Who Might Be a Saint
How Steak Sandwiches Are Helping Women Choose Life Over Abortion
The Heroes Who Brought Hope to Puerto Rico After Hurricane Maria
You can find more inspiring stories about these Everyday Heroes on the Knights of Columbus YouTube Channel.
