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Sparky Anderson, Hall of Fame Manager Dies

playerpress.com Written by playerpress.com, Thursday November 04 2010
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Sparky Anderson, shown in this October 1, 1995 file image, had died in his home in Thousand Oaks, California, according to family members, on November 4, 2010. Anderson, shown before a MLB between Baltimore Orioles and Detroit Tigers game, led the Cincinnati Reds to World Series titles in 1975 and 1976 and led the Tigers to the 1984 title. REUTERS/Joe Giza/Files (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT OBITUARY BASEBALL)

 

Sparky Anderson, the Hall of Fame manager who led Cincinnati’s Big Red Machine to back-to-back World Series championships in 1975 and 1976, and won another one with the Detroit Tigers in 1984, died on Thursday. He was 76 years old.

 

Anderson died from complications from dementia, and was placed in hospice care on Wednesday.

 

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

 

After he retired following the 1995 season, Anderson’s total of 2,194 wins as a manager were the third highest in baseball, behind only Connie Mack and John McGraw on the all time wins list.

 

He currently ranks sixth all-time as Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre have passed him up on the all time wins list.

 

George Anderson got his “Sparky” nickname when he played in the minor leagues because he played the game with a spark. He only played one season in the majors, batting .218 for the Phillies in 1959.

 

Anderson Reds teams that won back to back titles in 1975 and 1976 rank among the best teams of all time.

 

Anderson was a humble man as well as having a 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.

 

Anderson was popular with everybody including the players, the fans and the media.

 


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