RIP Sparky Anderson :-(

[conversationpc]

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5764168

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson has died, his family announced Wednesday. He was 76.

Anderson, who managed the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers to World Series titles, died as a result of complications from dementia, the family said in a statement.

His death came a day after the family announced he had been placed in hospice care at his home.

Anderson won 2,194 games as a manager, which was the third-highest total in major league history when he retired, trailing Connie Mack and John McGraw. He now stands sixth, also trailing Tony La Russa, Bobby Cox and Joe Torre. Anderson was the first manager to win World Series titles in both leagues and the only manager to lead two franchises in career wins.

He led Cincinnati's Big Red Machine to World Series wins in 1975-76. He won four National League pennants in Cincinnati from 1970-78 and then was fired after consecutive second-place finishes.

Anderson went to the American League and won there, too, directing the Tigers to a World Series title in 1984 and a division title in 1987. He retired after the 1995 season and was added to the Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee.

Anderson is survived by his wife, Carol; three children and nine grandchildren.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

[Michigan Girl]

Rest is Peace Spark ...
and thanks!!

[Rockindeano]

I would see George all the time when I lived in Thousand Oaks. He would always come into the store where I worked(OSH), and he would always talk baseball. What surprised me is that he would come right and say he does not respect Pete Rose anylonger(after gambling incident). I was shocked by that. He also said he didn't like living in Detroit but loved Cincinnati.

[timstar78]

I actually met Sparky Anderson at an El Torito in Thousand Oaks in the late '90s. Couldn't have been more nicer and friendly. Got his autograph on the back of the check...

I am a Padres fan and he even engaged me in a brief conversation about baseball. (I distinctly recall that he was very complimentary about then-Padres manager Bruce Bochy, saying he liked his style. And I told him that the Tigers broke my heart in 1984 when they took the Pads down.)

RIP.

[Michigan Girl]

I would see George all the time when I lived in Thousand Oaks. He would always come into the store where I worked(OSH), and he would always talk baseball. What surprised me is that he would come right and say he does not respect Pete Rose anylonger(after gambling incident). I was shocked by that. He also said he didn't like living in Detroit but loved Cincinnati.

This made me LOL ...you need
to go sit on your throne, you're full of pooh!!

[Rockindeano]

I would see George all the time when I lived in Thousand Oaks. He would always come into the store where I worked(OSH), and he would always talk baseball. What surprised me is that he would come right and say he does not respect Pete Rose anylonger(after gambling incident). I was shocked by that. He also said he didn't like living in Detroit but loved Cincinnati.

This made me LOL ...you need
to go sit on your throne, you're full of pooh!!

I'm dead serious. He basically said he was depressed living in Detroit.

[Enigma869]

He basically said he was depressed living in Detroit.

So is everyone else who is forced to live there!

[Michigan Girl]

He basically said he was depressed living in Detroit.

So is everyone else who is forced to live there!

lol ...I was hoping this would slide right on by you!!