Sparky Anderson
Posted by Andy on November 3, 2010
Sad news on ESPN.com today reporting that Sparky Anderson is in hospice care due to complications from dementia. I wasn't aware that he was ill at all.
Anderson went gray prematurely and therefore appeared older than he actually was. He's only 76 years old--somewhat young to have such advanced dementia.
I should probably know this, but who are the other managers in addition to Anderson to win World Series titles with 2 different teams? Anderson did it, of course, in 1975 and 1976 with the Reds and 1984 with the Tigers.
Overall, Anderson has the 6th most wins as a manager:
| Rk | Mgr | Yrs | From | To | G | W ▾ | L | G>.500 | Plyof App | WSwon | PennWon | ASG | Player/Manager | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Connie Mack HOF | as player | 53 | 1894 | 1950 | 7755 | 3731 | 3948 | .486 | -217 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 1 | plyr/mgr: 1894-1896 |
| 2 | John McGraw HOF | as player | 33 | 1899 | 1932 | 4769 | 2763 | 1948 | .586 | 815 | 9 | 3 | 10 | 1 | plyr/mgr: 1899-1906 |
| 3 | Tony LaRussa | as player | 32 | 1979 | 2010 | 4934 | 2638 | 2293 | .535 | 345 | 13 | 2 | 5 | 5 | |
| 4 | Bobby Cox | as player | 29 | 1978 | 2010 | 4508 | 2504 | 2001 | .556 | 503 | 16 | 1 | 5 | 5 | |
| 5 | Joe Torre | as player | 29 | 1977 | 2010 | 4329 | 2326 | 1997 | .538 | 329 | 15 | 4 | 6 | 6 | plyr/mgr: 1977 |
| 6 | Sparky Anderson HOF | as player | 26 | 1970 | 1995 | 4030 | 2194 | 1834 | .545 | 360 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 5 | |
| 7 | Bucky Harris HOF | as player | 29 | 1924 | 1956 | 4410 | 2158 | 2219 | .493 | -61 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | plyr/mgr: 1924-1931 |
| 8 | Joe McCarthy HOF | 24 | 1926 | 1950 | 3487 | 2125 | 1333 | .615 | 792 | 9 | 7 | 9 | 7 | ||
| 9 | Walter Alston HOF | as player | 23 | 1954 | 1976 | 3658 | 2040 | 1613 | .558 | 427 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 9 | |
| 10 | Leo Durocher HOF | as player | 24 | 1939 | 1973 | 3739 | 2008 | 1709 | .540 | 299 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | plyr/mgr: 1939-1945 |
November 3rd, 2010 at 9:13 am
LaRussa has won WS with more than one team...who else?
November 3rd, 2010 at 9:24 am
LaRussa and Anderson are the only ones who did it in both leagues. I don't know who else has it with multiple teams in the same league.
November 3rd, 2010 at 10:08 am
Bill McKechnie (Pirates and Reds)
Bucky Harris (Senators and Yankees) and the aforementioned
Anderson (Reds and Tigers) and
LaRussa (A's and Cards)
November 3rd, 2010 at 12:27 pm
[...] Sad news on ESPN.com today reporting that Sparky Anderson is in hospice care due to complications from dementia. I wasn’t aware that he was ill at all. The rest is here: Sparky Anderson » Baseball-Reference Blog » Blog Archive [...]
November 3rd, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Hi,
Only Tony LaRussa and Sparky Anderson have won the World Series in both the National League and the American League. The list of those who have won penants in both leagues includes Dick Williams and Jim Leyland.
Blessings,
Kevin Smith
http://www.firstbaptistkingston.net
November 3rd, 2010 at 12:41 pm
hospice care doesn't mean death is imminent. he could still be around for another 18 months.
November 3rd, 2010 at 4:36 pm
what I liked about Sparky was...he always gave credit for his managerial success to his players....
November 3rd, 2010 at 7:10 pm
There is an old WKRP episode that Sparky guest starred on. It's worth watching if you get the chance.
On another note, Yogi Berra won an AL pennant (1964) and an NL pennant (1973). It was Sparky Andersons Reds whom Berra and the Mets beat in the '73 playoffs.
November 3rd, 2010 at 7:28 pm
There's probably a good biography of Sparky out there, but for some insight into his character (and a great baseball read), check out "The Machine," by Joe Posnanski.
November 4th, 2010 at 2:59 pm
Sparky Anderson died this morning at his home in Thousand Oaks, California, at the age of 76. RIP Sparky. For a kid who grew up in the 1970s as a Dodgers and Blue Jays fan with lots of relatives in Detroit, you were the Respected Opponent. I will miss you.
John, I expect you already know this, so I'll note it for other posters. Anderson kept a diary of that charmed 1984 Detroit Tigers season. It was published as Bless You Boys.
November 4th, 2010 at 5:04 pm
RIP Sparky.
November 5th, 2010 at 1:06 pm
We have lost one of the most popular baseball manager but surely one of the most loved men ever to spend his time with all of us baseball and sports fans.
Thanks for being here for us Sparky, you will never be replaced or forgotten,
Much Love to your Family;
Baseball fans everywhere