Sparky Anderson: 1934 – 2010 (Part 2)
A Hall of Fame plaque that read, ‘Revered and treasured by his players for his humility, humanity, eternal optimism and knowledge of the game’, epitomized Sparky Anderson for what he was as a manager in Major League Baseball. George Lee Anderson was no great player on the field, but he was a revered figure in the dugout. Known for being shy with public appearances, the gaffer knew his way around his team and the clubhouse. It was fitting him to shape the Cincinnati Reds in the image he painted in his tenure. He led the Reds and the Detroit Tigers to glory and it was not a surprise to see the star captain get the fame he had in the era that personified his character.
Commissioner Bud Selig was another to come out and offer his open admiration for the man who made a legend out of the Reds and the Tigers in both the National League and the American League. Bud and Sparky were close friends and when the news of Anderson’s death reached Selig’s ears, the baseball sheriff issued a statement on the Hall of Famer by saying, “I recall with great fondness the many hours we would spend together when his Tigers came to Milwaukee. Sparky was a loyal friend, and whenever I would be dealing with difficult situations as commissioner, he would lift my spirits, telling me to keep my head up and that I was doing the right thing.”
The news was felt across the country and his admirers in Cincinnati made the most of their efforts count as they plugged up a photo of Sparky on their outfield video board in the Great American Ballpark. For the team, it was an emotional night and one could not think otherwise as Anderson had gained the side two memorable World Series titles in 1975 and 1976. For Reds owner Bob Castellini, Sparky touched every supporter’s heart.
George Lee Anderson recorded 2,194 wins in his career, as a club manager in both clubs and that was an astonishing figure when he hung his boots in 1995. Now he sits on the 6th position of the wins tally list. In 9 years with the Reds, he bagged 863 wins and with the Detroit Tigers, he collected 1331 victories in 17 years. At the end of the day, the gaffer will be known for his contribution in the victories as his name is deeply engraved in the history books.
Anderson was a stern believer in his players. He made the point to educate every ball player in his management about baseball and the right tactics to carry forward in the game. One particular individual who was 1984 Tigers’ Most Valuable Player, Trammell shared his views on the gaffer after the announcement of his passing away. He said, “Being a good baseball player and person went hand-in-hand with him. He wanted us to put our dirty clothes in the bin so that the clubhouse guys didn't have to pick up after us.” Now, with the Arizona Diamondbacks as a bench coach, the former pupil under Sparky looks to pass on the teachings to his players.
Jack Morris added on Trammell’s assessment by saying, “He had a lot to do with moulding me professionally and taught me a lot about perseverance.” Perseverance was a strong quality of Sparky’s and basked in its qualities as he exemplified himself to his squad by leading them to success. The name, Sparky, was granted to him in the minor leagues because of his high-spirited play in the game. He made it to the Majors for just one season. That was back in 1959, when he featured for the Philadelphia Phillies on the plate and batted an average .219.
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