EPISODE · Mar 27, 2018 · 1 MIN
Sparky Anderson on his Managing Debut
from Radio Baseball Cards · host Smarter Podcasts
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson’s big league playing career lasted exactly one season – and yielded a .218 batting average in 152 games.But Anderson’s second act in the majors – as a manager – ran for 26 seasons. And this time, the Hall of Fame came calling at the end of a run that produced three World Series titles and more than 2,000 victories.Born on Feb. 22, 1934, in Bridgewater, S.D., Anderson and his family moved to Los Angeles when he was eight.Following the 1958 season, the Dodgers traded Anderson to the Phillies, where he won the team’s second base job in 1959. But after producing just 12 extra base hits and 34 RBI, Anderson was returned to the minors – where he spent 1960-63 with Toronto of the International League before calling it a career.Anderson took over the managerial reins in Toronto in 1964 at the age of 30, then managed four different minor league teams to pennants over the next four seasons. He served as the San Diego Padres 3rd base coach in their first big league season of 1969, and was prepared to serve as a coach with the California Angels in 1970 before being named the Reds’ manager on Oct. 8, 1969.Anderson led the Reds to the National League pennant in 1970, and produced another pennant for Cincinnati in 1972 and the NL West title in 1973 before the Reds won back-to-back World Series titles in 1975 and 1976.Anderson left the Reds following the 1978 season, but hooked on with the Tigers midway through 1979. By 1984, Anderson had led Detroit into the World Series, where the Tigers defeated the Padres to cap a season in which the team began the year with a record of 35-5.Anderson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2000. He passed away on Nov. 4, 2010.
What this episode covers
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson’s big league playing career lasted exactly one season – and yielded a .218 batting average in 152 games.But Anderson’s second act in the majors – as a manager – ran for 26 seasons. And this time, the Hall of Fame came calling at the end of a run that produced three World Series titles and more than 2,000 victories.Born on Feb. 22, 1934, in Bridgewater, S.D., Anderson and his family moved to Los Angeles when he was eight.Following the 1958 season, the Dodgers traded Anderson to the Phillies, where he won the team’s second base job in 1959. But after producing just 12 extra base hits and 34 RBI, Anderson was returned to the minors – where he spent 1960-63 with Toronto of the International League before calling it a career.Anderson took over the managerial reins in Toronto in 1964 at the age of 30, then managed four different minor league teams to pennants over the next four seasons. He served as the San Diego Padres 3rd base coach in their first big league season of 1969, and was prepared to serve as a coach with the California Angels in 1970 before being named the Reds’ manager on Oct. 8, 1969.Anderson led the Reds to the National League pennant in 1970, and produced another pennant for Cincinnati in 1972 and the NL West title in 1973 before the Reds won back-to-back World Series titles in 1975 and 1976.Anderson left the Reds following the 1978 season, but hooked on with the Tigers midway through 1979. By 1984, Anderson had led Detroit into the World Series, where the Tigers defeated the Padres to cap a season in which the team began the year with a record of 35-5.Anderson was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2000. He passed away on Nov. 4, 2010.
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Sparky Anderson on his Managing Debut
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