Manager Sparky Anderson 1934-2010 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 11-04-2010, 03:55 PM

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THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson, who directed Cincinnati's Big Red Machine to back-to-back World Series championships and went on to win another title in Detroit in 1984, died Thursday. He was 76.

Anderson died from complications from dementia, family spokesman Dan Ewald said. A day earlier, Anderson's family said he had been placed in hospice care.

Anderson was the first manager to win World Series titles in both leagues and the only manager to lead two franchises in career wins.

His total of 2,194 wins as a manager were the third highest when he retired after the 1995 season, trailing only Connie Mack and John McGraw.

Ewald knew Anderson for about 35 years as a former Tigers spokesman and baseball writer for the Detroit News.

"Sparky Anderson will always be measured by his number of victories and his place in baseball's Hall of Fame. But all of that is overshadowed by the type of person he was. Sparky not only spiked life into baseball, he gave life in general something to smile about. Never in my lifetime have I met a man as gentle, kind and courageous as Sparky," he said.

The white-haired Anderson was a flop as a player, batting .218 during his only season in the majors. He learned to control a temper that nearly scuttled his fledgling career as a manager, and went on to become one of baseball's best at running a team.

And he did it with a humility that couldn't obscure his unique ability to manage people.

"I got good players, stayed out of their way, let them win a lot and then just hung around for 26 years," he said during his Hall of Fame acceptance speech in 2000.

D-Dey · 11-04-2010, 04:17 PM

Unbelieveable. My parents have outlived that guy. And I always thought he was older.

Marvo301 · 11-04-2010, 05:54 PM

Sparky Anderson

catlover79 · 11-04-2010, 06:19 PM

I always thought Sparky was a cool guy. Loved his guest spot on WKRP back in the day.

Retro4Life · 11-04-2010, 06:52 PM

Sparky. I was a huge fan of the "Big Red Machine" back in the day. Like I suppose everyone else, I always thought he was much older than he really was.

Mr. Television · 11-04-2010, 07:05 PM

He was a classy guy. Even when your team was playing his, you had to admire him. R.I.P. Sparky.

lalauver · 11-04-2010, 10:44 PM

I will always remember sparky as manager of the big red machine.
In the70's the reds were in the NLWEST and being a Dodger fan they were a great rival.I always respected sparky as a manager because it was his team and he was not afraid to pull a pitcher or bench a starter if they were not doing their job! also to tell an umpire if they missed a call!

RIP SPARKY

sara · 11-05-2010, 03:25 AM

First Ernie Harwell and now Sparky Anderson not a good year for Tigers fans.

James · 11-05-2010, 04:11 AM

He managed two of my favorite teams! RIP Sparky!

11-04-2010, 03:55 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,472	Manager Sparky Anderson 1934-2010 Link THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson, who directed Cincinnati's Big Red Machine to back-to-back World Series championships and went on to win another title in Detroit in 1984, died Thursday. He was 76. Anderson died from complications from dementia, family spokesman Dan Ewald said. A day earlier, Anderson's family said he had been placed in hospice care. Anderson was the first manager to win World Series titles in both leagues and the only manager to lead two franchises in career wins. His total of 2,194 wins as a manager were the third highest when he retired after the 1995 season, trailing only Connie Mack and John McGraw. Ewald knew Anderson for about 35 years as a former Tigers spokesman and baseball writer for the Detroit News. "Sparky Anderson will always be measured by his number of victories and his place in baseball's Hall of Fame. But all of that is overshadowed by the type of person he was. Sparky not only spiked life into baseball, he gave life in general something to smile about. Never in my lifetime have I met a man as gentle, kind and courageous as Sparky," he said. The white-haired Anderson was a flop as a player, batting .218 during his only season in the majors. He learned to control a temper that nearly scuttled his fledgling career as a manager, and went on to become one of baseball's best at running a team. And he did it with a humility that couldn't obscure his unique ability to manage people. "I got good players, stayed out of their way, let them win a lot and then just hung around for 26 years," he said during his Hall of Fame acceptance speech in 2000.
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11-04-2010, 04:17 PM	#2
D-Dey Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 11, 2000 Location: Long Island, New York, USA Posts: 5,535	Unbelieveable. My parents have outlived that guy. And I always thought he was older.
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11-04-2010, 05:54 PM	#3
Marvo301 I'm NOT a Blockhead! Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 17, 2002 Location: The Great White North Posts: 21,460	Sparky Anderson
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11-04-2010, 06:19 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,392	I always thought Sparky was a cool guy. Loved his guest spot on WKRP back in the day.
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11-04-2010, 06:52 PM	#5
Retro4Life Accept No Substitutes Forum Veteran Join Date: Feb 04, 2009 Location: IL Posts: 6,708	Sparky. I was a huge fan of the "Big Red Machine" back in the day. Like I suppose everyone else, I always thought he was much older than he really was.
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11-04-2010, 07:05 PM	#6
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	He was a classy guy. Even when your team was playing his, you had to admire him. R.I.P. Sparky.
	__________________ Sonny

11-04-2010, 10:44 PM	#7
lalauver Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 15, 2004 Location: pa Posts: 100	I will always remember sparky as manager of the big red machine. In the70's the reds were in the NLWEST and being a Dodger fan they were a great rival.I always respected sparky as a manager because it was his team and he was not afraid to pull a pitcher or bench a starter if they were not doing their job! also to tell an umpire if they missed a call! RIP SPARKY
	__________________ _____________________________________________ coach Morris Buttermaker: you didn't come into this life just to sit on a dugout bench did ya? Now get your ass out there and do the best that you can! BAD NEWS BEARS [1976]

11-05-2010, 03:25 AM	#8
sara Member Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2002 Location: grandville michigan Posts: 2,296	First Ernie Harwell and now Sparky Anderson not a good year for Tigers fans.
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11-05-2010, 04:11 AM	#9
James Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Jan 07, 2001 Location: Dayton, Ohio, USA Posts: 6,370	He managed two of my favorite teams! RIP Sparky!