RIP Sparky Anderson

[HackyMcHack]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

First Ernie, now Sparky. Sigh....

 

[dooley_womack1]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

RIP to a guy whom I'm glad won a series with the Tigers, since he was often thought of as just a "push-button" manager with the Reds.

 

[YankeeFan]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

RIP to a guy whom I'm glad won a series with the Tigers, since he was often thought of as just a "push-button" manager with the Reds.

Dude, he's not dead.

 

[dooley_womack1]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

Dammit, who put the advance obit on the posting wire?? Let's say "All the best" as opposed to R.I.P.

 

[Pete Incaviglia]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

I grew up outside Detroit. Grew up a Tiger fan. In 1987 I was 11. My dad took the family to Florida during spring training. We hit a Tigers game in Lakeland.

A few things about that day stand out. The first is Anderson. I remember him being on the field side of a chain link fence, leaning against it talking to fans; not only talking, but conversing in the most personable manner. He seemed genuinely interested in where every one of us was from, what we did - no matter the age. I was enthralled. I don't think I said a word, just watched and listen.

And, as a side, after the game, Kirk Gibson, who was a surly bugger back then, signed an autograph for my sister, age 9. It was one of like three he signed. We got the signatures near the team bus and Lou Whitaker, for whatever reason, invited my sister onto the bus to get autographs as the players boarded. He also signed his name Louis Whitaker, which I thought was odd at the time.

Anyway, just two small baseball stories.

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

He was at the 1984 20 year reunion in 2009. Looked pretty good and sounded pretty good then. Just walked a little slower.


Must have been a quick decline.

Get well soon, Sparky.

 

[Bubbler]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

Dammit, who put the advance obit on the posting wire?? Let's say "All the best" as opposed to R.I.P.

RIP Dooley Womack. You were once woodwork, now you're in a pine box.

Oh wait ...

As for Sparky, that's incredibly sad to hear.

 

[SoCalDude]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

Big Red Machine teams had unusually large names on the backs of the uniforms.

Names like Anderson, Geronimo and especially this guy used up almost all the available real estate.

Met Sparky a few times and he was always delightful to be around. Sorry to hear this.

RE: above, anybody remember Paul "OUSEHOLDE" when his shirt was tucked in?

 

[Sea Bass]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

He was at the 1984 20 year reunion in 2009. Looked pretty good and sounded pretty good then. Just walked a little slower.


Must have been a quick decline.

Get well soon, Sparky.

Why did they wait five extra years to have the 20-year reunion?

 

[Moderator1]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

He was at the 1984 20 year reunion in 2009. Looked pretty good and sounded pretty good then. Just walked a little slower.


Must have been a quick decline.

Get well soon, Sparky.

That **** doesn't mess around. Awful stuff. Awful news.

 

[WolvEagle]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

Awful, awful news. The Detroit papers are making a big deal of it, as they should. What a cool guy.

Sparky is absolutely beloved around here.

My first baseball card of him was in 1972 when he was the Reds' manager - and he was gray, then, too.

 

[Ben_Hecht]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

Horrible news.

 

[micropolitan guy]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

I saw him in Des Moines at a Cubs-Evansville game during the 1981 strike, waiting in line at the concession stand. Bernie Carbo was with Evansville then, and begged him for a job.

 

[OrangeGrad]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

Really sad news.

 

[slappy4428]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

My favorite non-baseball memory of Sparky...

"Sparky"
gs: Sparky Anderson [ Himself ], Hugh Gillin [ Cal Owens ], Andrew Bloch [ Derek Doogle ]

Mr. Carlson hires legendary baseball manager Sparky Anderson as the host of a new sports interview show.

 

[Huggy]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

Ha, Sparky's Bullpen, great pull.

"It's like soccer/hockey."

Sad news about a former Toronto Maple Leaf (the baseball version).

 

[Hank_Scorpio]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

He was at the 1984 20 year reunion in 2009. Looked pretty good and sounded pretty good then. Just walked a little slower.


Must have been a quick decline.

Get well soon, Sparky.

Why did they wait five extra years to have the 20-year reunion?

Ok, it was a 25-year reunion.

Alcohol and sleep deprivation caused me to miss five years.

 

[imjustagirl]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

Wow. That's sad. I was born outside Detroit and my dad always liked Sparky.

You're from 8 Mile?

If by 8 Mile you mean Royal Oak, yes.

My grandmother lived off 14 Mile, but way up in Troy. Not even remotely the same.

Very sad. How can you not love Sparky? And yes, 76 is very young.

Side, note: mom's from Royal Oak. Went to the Shrine of the Little Flower & was married there too.

I was born at William Beaumont. We didn't stay there though...moved to Drayton Plains from Clawson like six months later.

 

[Blitz]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

'Dem was the days I grew up in - with the Big Red Machine and Fisk coaxing his homer past the foul pole and the vaunted Dodgers' infield and all the great Yankee squads.
Good luck, Sparky.

 

[playthrough]

Re: Sparky Anderson in hospice, suffers from dementia

My favorite non-baseball memory of Sparky...

"Sparky"
gs: Sparky Anderson [ Himself ], Hugh Gillin [ Cal Owens ], Andrew Bloch [ Derek Doogle ]

Mr. Carlson hires legendary baseball manager Sparky Anderson as the host of a new sports interview show.

A classic! Jennifer tells Sparky she's a season-ticket holder and Sparky responds with her exact seat location.

My Sparky story--my senior year of high school, me and three friends took a spring training trip for spring break. Hit Lakeland to see the Tigers. Sparky had his autobiography on sale at the souvenir stands, I bought it and then tried to get him to sign before the game. An usher stopped me from getting to the dugout, as the game was close to starting. But I saw Sparky standing there and I pleaded with the usher to let me through, saying this was the only day we'd be in Lakeland.

"Catch him during the season," the usher grumbled. "I can't, I live in a National League city!" I said. This was pre-interleague play. The usher paused to process that, then took my book down to the dugout. Sparky looked up at me and signed. Still sits on the shelf.