By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

HUNDREDS of Bahamians from all walks of life packed St Agnes Anglican Church on Saturday to pay their last respects to the late Franklyn ‘Cinderella’ Sweeting, one of the country’s premier baseball pitchers turned manager and softball coach.

Sweeting, who died at the age of 76 on November 4, was eulogised by Reverend Father Ranfurly Brown and was interred in St Agnes Cemetery following the service.

During his pitching days in baseball, Sweeting left an indelible mark on the sport.

He was twice named Pitcher of the Year, the first coming as a member of the team ‘I Need-A-Lundry’ in 1963 when he compiled a 6-2 win-loss record with 73 strike outs. More than a decade later, he earned the award again in 1977 with the Paradise Island team as he went 13-4.

For three consecutive years from 1975-77, Sweeting led the league with the most wins, albeit tied with Kirk ‘Stomper’ Smith the first year with a 19-6 mark. The other two years, he went solo with a 12-6 and 12-4 record respectively.

On the international scene, Sweeting was originally not named to the men’s national team that travelled to Wichita, Kansas in August, 1969 for an international tournament. But after an injury to one of the players selected, Sweeting was added to the team and he made the best of his opportunity.

Not only did he lead the Bahamas to its best showing ever in winning three games, but Sweeting got his nickname ‘Cinderella’ as a result of his performance.

The team returned home to a massive motorcade, one that the country has ever seen, to mark the achievement.

When he was done playing baseball, Sweeting switched his attention to softball where he assisted International Softball Hall of Fame manager Ali Culmer in coaching the Colina Crows to one of the more formidable appearances in the New Providence Softball Association where they went on top win numerous national titles in the Bahamas Softball Federation’s Round Robin Tournament.

Sweeting, however, got a chance to relive his glory days in baseball when he was invited to manage Buttons Formal Wear to three consecutive titles from 1994-1997 in the newly formed Nassau Baseball League, which broke away from the Bahamas Baseball Association over its long-time dispute. A few years later with a split from Buttons Formal Wear, Sweeting managed the newly formed Dudley’s Panthers that went on to win the triple crown with three of his sons, Franklyn Jr, Teddy and Felipe Sweeting playing major roles on the team.

Sweeting also travelled as a coach to Ed Armbrister, one of the six Bahamians to play in Major League baseball, as they carried the men’s national team to North Carolina where they were successful in winning the title, another historic feat for the Bahamas, but not celebrated as was the effort of the team in Wichita.

In 2014, the Bahamas Government recognised Sweeting for his achievement by placing him into the National Sports Hall of Fame along with Kevin Johnson, Percival ‘Andrew’ Knowles, Edith Powell, Marina McClain, Donnie Martinborough, Ray Minus Sr, Harcourt ‘Rip’ Rolle, Frederick Robert Sturrup, Daniel Sumner, Frederick ‘Chicken’ Taylor, Calvin Cooper, Norris Stubbs; Allan Jackson, Wilfred Coakley and Bertram ‘Cowboy’ Musgrove. Sweeting left behind his wife Andrea nee-Knowles, president of the Sister Sister Breast Cancer Group, and nine children, including D’Andrea Sweeting-Cary, who was also an outstanding multiple star athlete, following in the footsteps of her siblings already mentioned.

A memorial service, conducted by former Buttons Former Wear player/sponsor Tommy Stubbs and sportscaster Marcellus Hall, was held on Wednesday at St Agnes. A number of Bahamians, including those in the sporting community, got a chance to extend their condolences.