Sparky Anderson
Sparky Anderson
George Lee "Sparky" Andersonwas a Major League Baseball player and manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976 championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both leagues. His 2,194 career wins are the sixth most for a manager in Major League history. He was named American League Manager of the Year in 1984 and 1987...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionCoach
Date of Birth22 February 1934
CountryUnited States of America
The only thing I believe is this: A player does not have to like a manager and he does not have to respect a manager. All he has to do is obey the rules.
The man I marvel at is the one that's in there day after day, and night after night and still puts the figures on the board. I'm talking about Pete Rose, Stan Musial, the real stars. Believe me, especially the way we travel today, flying all night with a game the next night and then the next afternoon, if you can play one-hundred and sixty-two games, you're a man.
I only had a high school education and believe me, I had to cheat to get that.
I don't believe a manager ever won a pennant. Casey Stengel won all those pennants with the Yankees. How many did he win with the Boston Braves and Mets?
This game has taken a lot of guys over the years who would have had to work in factories and gas stations and made them prominent people. I only had a high school education, and believe me, I had to cheat to get that. There isn't a college in the world that would have me and yet in this business you can walk into a room with millionaires, doctors, professional people and get more attention than they get. I don't know any other business where you can do that.
I've been to the Hall many times, and I have seen this exhibit, but I still get a kick out of it every time. I still don't understand how someone like me could come out of South Dakota and end up with these great men. These men are baseball.
You'd think he knew everybody. He made everybody feel like somebody.
We are the only two that ever talked all the way through batting practice. That is unheard of.
I had Kirby Puckett in '88 in Japan. Kirby, I'll never forget, I asked him one day, 'Do you ever shut up?' and he said, 'No,' and I said, 'Well, keep talking.' He loved to talk.
Why not give that guy a shot? He and Bobby are the only two that could.
You give us the pitching some of these clubs have and no one could touch us, but God has a way of not arranging that, because it's not as much fun.
Casey knew his baseball. He only made it look like he was fooling around. He knew every move that was ever invented and some that we haven't even caught on to yet.
They're loyal Royal all the way. But, they're not tough fans, a player does not have to worry about being insulted there.
If I hear Bowie Kuhn say just once more he's doing something for the betterment of baseball, I'm going to throw-up.