Original Post
Replies sorted oldest to newest
Sounds like Heaven may be getting a great coach for one of its teams. I heard an interview with Sparky years ago where he said he was a car salesman at one time. He commented that he was awesome at selling cars but he couldn't close the deal because he felt guilty when he knew the person was paying too much or he knew they could not afford the vehicle. In the end,he would talk the person out of their purchase, which led to his dismissal. He stated "I knew then that I would have to somehow make a living in baseball". Obviously, Sparky made the right choice for himself and countless other players and fans. In my mind, Sparky Anderson will always be the leader of the "Big Red Machine".
Sparky proved he was one of the great managers of all time by directing some of the standout championship clubs in two different team's histories.
Sad news...Sparky passed away today. RIP to a great manager.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5764168
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5764168
quote:Originally posted by Emanski's Heroes:
Sad news...Sparky passed away today. RIP to a great manager.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5764168
Very sad indeed
RIP Sparky!
This is such sad news. He has been a fixture in our community since his retirement from professional baseball. He was tireless in fundraising for the local baseball community; he helped raise funds for, and his name adorns the field at Cal Lutheran University. You would see him at their games occasionally, as well as other local youth games; he was always gracious and would sign anything and would always talk to the kids. He especially loved kids and loved to talk baseball with them. He will be sorely missed here and I pray for comfort for his wife, three children and nine grandchildren. Baseball lost a very special man today.
Having grown up in the Detroit area, the recent loss of Ernie Harwell and now Sparky....man, I feel like part of my baseball-dreaming boyhood 'family' is gone.....great memories.
I have one Sparky story to share.
In the early to mid-1990's, my wife and I took a Carribbean cruise. Once on board, we found that there was a large group also on board that had been booked for a "Cruise with the Reds". Several Reds players were there along with the GM, Tom Brennaman, and of course Sparky.
Sparky was just a delight all week. He was very gracious in the dining room with those who wanted photos and autographs. More than just posing, he enjoyed spending a few minutes telling tales and drawing laughs time after time.
At some point they had a Q&A in the ship's ball room that they opened up to all on board. My best memory of a Sparky tale was when he was asked by someone in the audience whether he thought the players of today measured up to the greats of yore. In particular, the questioner asked if Sparky thought Ted Williams could hit .400 against modern pitching and modern defenders.
"No, I don't think so," Sparky said. "He'd probably only hit maybe .320, if that."
"Really?" was the audience member's incredulous response.
"Well, you've got to remember," Sparky concluded, "Ted's what -- 80-some years old?"
In the early to mid-1990's, my wife and I took a Carribbean cruise. Once on board, we found that there was a large group also on board that had been booked for a "Cruise with the Reds". Several Reds players were there along with the GM, Tom Brennaman, and of course Sparky.
Sparky was just a delight all week. He was very gracious in the dining room with those who wanted photos and autographs. More than just posing, he enjoyed spending a few minutes telling tales and drawing laughs time after time.
At some point they had a Q&A in the ship's ball room that they opened up to all on board. My best memory of a Sparky tale was when he was asked by someone in the audience whether he thought the players of today measured up to the greats of yore. In particular, the questioner asked if Sparky thought Ted Williams could hit .400 against modern pitching and modern defenders.
"No, I don't think so," Sparky said. "He'd probably only hit maybe .320, if that."
"Really?" was the audience member's incredulous response.
"Well, you've got to remember," Sparky concluded, "Ted's what -- 80-some years old?"
.
.
.
Alzheimers and the rest of the "dementia" family of diseases are terrible.
My prayers and thoughts are with the family!
RIP SPARKY!
My prayers and thoughts are with the family!
RIP SPARKY!
What a GREAT SOUL WHO WILL BE TRULY MISSED BY ALL!!!
My heartfelt prayers and condolences to Coach Anderson's immediate family, and extended baseball family.
It was a blessing to meet him in 1990 in Lakeland Florida @ Detroit's training complex. Knowing Milton Cuyler(who now coaches for the Twins Gulf Coast team) made it all possible. I can promise you Milt is there to pay his respects. I too, would be there, if it were possible.
Coach Anderson, let the sparks fly towards the umpires quite frequently in his early managerial years which led to his name "Sparky". I will always remember that special day two decades ago, and how he and I laughed together about me trying to sign with the Tigers as an older player. I was persistent, but he won out in the end. He made me realize that it just ain't natural for a 30 yr. old player in modern day baseball to sign as a rookie-LOL
He gave me peace then, now I give him all my heart in prayer in his quantum leap into the next dimension. We will see him again, I just know it.
Respectfully with a heavy heart.
Fathertime71
My heartfelt prayers and condolences to Coach Anderson's immediate family, and extended baseball family.
It was a blessing to meet him in 1990 in Lakeland Florida @ Detroit's training complex. Knowing Milton Cuyler(who now coaches for the Twins Gulf Coast team) made it all possible. I can promise you Milt is there to pay his respects. I too, would be there, if it were possible.
Coach Anderson, let the sparks fly towards the umpires quite frequently in his early managerial years which led to his name "Sparky". I will always remember that special day two decades ago, and how he and I laughed together about me trying to sign with the Tigers as an older player. I was persistent, but he won out in the end. He made me realize that it just ain't natural for a 30 yr. old player in modern day baseball to sign as a rookie-LOL
He gave me peace then, now I give him all my heart in prayer in his quantum leap into the next dimension. We will see him again, I just know it.
Respectfully with a heavy heart.
Fathertime71
quote:Originally posted by Midlo Dad:
I have one Sparky story to share.
In the early to mid-1990's, my wife and I took a Carribbean cruise. Once on board, we found that there was a large group also on board that had been booked for a "Cruise with the Reds". Several Reds players were there along with the GM, Tom Brennaman, and of course Sparky.
Sparky was just a delight all week. He was very gracious in the dining room with those who wanted photos and autographs. More than just posing, he enjoyed spending a few minutes telling tales and drawing laughs time after time.
At some point they had a Q&A in the ship's ball room that they opened up to all on board. My best memory of a Sparky tale was when he was asked by someone in the audience whether he thought the players of today measured up to the greats of yore. In particular, the questioner asked if Sparky thought Ted Williams could hit .400 against modern pitching and modern defenders.
"No, I don't think so," Sparky said. "He'd probably only hit maybe .320, if that."
"Really?" was the audience member's incredulous response.
"Well, you've got to remember," Sparky concluded, "Ted's what -- 80-some years old?"
That story reminds me of an exchange in the movie "Cobb" where a reporter asks Ty Cobb (played by Tommy Lee Jones) what he'd hit against today's pitching. Cobb's response was a bit more R rated.
As a Reds fan, Sparky played a big part in making me a baseball addict...and brought me many amazing memories.
I will miss him, and yes I have prayed for him.
I will miss him, and yes I have prayed for him.
Same here jbb.