Sparky-Anderson-Obituary

Sparky Anderson

Obituary

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) - Sparky Anderson, the white-haired Hall of Fame manager who directed Cincinnati's Big Red Machine to back-to-back World Series championships and won another one in Detroit, 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.

Jack Morris helped the Tigers win the 1984 title. The rugged pitcher choked up during a phone conversation with The Associated Press from his home in the Twin Cities when he was informed of Anderson's death.

"Wow. He died way too young. I got a lot of phone calls yesterday about the hospice and the dementia, neither of which I knew about. I wasn't prepared for this. I don't know what to say. I'm kind of shocked," Morris said.

"He was a big part of my life, for sure. He had a lot to do with molding me professionally and taught me a lot about perseverance. He was a good guy," he said. "Baseball will have very few people like Sparky. He was a unique individual. He was a character with a great passion and love for the game."

George "Sparky" Anderson got his nickname in the minor leagues because of his spirited play. He made it to the majors for only one season, batting .218 for the Phillies in 1959.

Anderson learned to control a temper that nearly scuttled his fledgling career as a manager in the minors, and went on to become one of baseball's best at running a team. His Reds teams that won crowns in 1975 and 1976 rank among the most powerful of all time.

And Anderson won 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.

Always affable and ever talkative, Anderson was equally popular among players, fans and media.

"To be around me, you have to be a little bit cuckoo," Anderson said on the day he resigned from the Tigers after the 1995 season. "One day it's written in concrete, the next day it's written in sand. I always felt if I didn't change my mind every 24 hours, people would find me boring."

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.

Anderson currently ranks sixth all-time, also trailing Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre.


Copyright © 2010 The Associated Press

Guest Book

Not sure what to say?

Hello everyone my name is Patrick tumilty I am a big baseball fan especially with the Cincinnati Reds and I want to say that I'm sad about sparky Anderson's passing away years ago I cried when I heard about it and it's because I love sparky you look like a father figure to me and I met him in San Diego I used to talk to him all the time when the Reds were in town against the Padres and the same thing when the Reds were in town Los Angeles against the dodgers I always make time to speak to...

I have an incredible Sparky Anderson young fan story. Once, many years ago, me and a friend hid out under a table at a nice restaurant waiting for a Detroit Tigers press conference to start in Jackson, Michigan. When the team entered the banquet room, we came out from hiding, they were grabbing at us and trying to throw us out of the affair. Sparky - like an umpire separating two feuding managers - stepped in between me and a busboy and separated us while yelling "whoa" in front...

In loving memory of a wonderful person. We will love you and miss you always.

He forgot to mention in HoF speech (2000) was bench coach for Charlie Dressen, (Brooklyn Dodgers) told him, "George when a pitcher gets the ball up, Go get him."

You were a godsend and you will be missed

I was always a very huge fan of the Detroit Tigers! Sparky definitely made that happen! I am still saying he and Jim Leyland were the best managers the Tigers ever had. I was also very fond of his charity for the children. R.I.P. sir!

Godspeed Sparky, and thank you for sharing a part of your life with us.

DEAR Anderson family. When sparky died I cried. I met sparky IN San Diego .ca when he was manager of the Cincinnati Reds I got his autograph. Rest in peace skipper I will see you up in heaven Sparky and we will talk baseball for my Cincinnati Reds fan