Sparky Anderson

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  • SlimKibbles
    Supporter
    • Apr 2004
    • 7276

    #1

    Sparky Anderson

    A great former manager was put into hospice care due to complications with dementia (a.k.a. Alzheimer's - I don't know why they just didn't call it that). Anyway, I was just a newborn baby when he won the WS with the Reds in '76. The man is still hugely popular here in town because of his time with the Reds. I imagine Tigers fans have a spot in their heart for the guy too.

    http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5759008

    Longer article from my local paper:
    MLB: Cincinnati Reds
    NFL: Cincinnati Bengals
    NCAA Hoops: Xavier Musketeers
    NCAA Football: Miami Hurricanes
    NHL: Calgary Flames

    "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." - Edmund Burke

    "The wisest men follow their own direction." - Euripides
  • SPTO
    binging
    • Feb 2003
    • 68046

    #2
    Re: Sparky Anderson

    I heard he was at a Detroit (I think) charity function earlier this year which he started and he was very choked up as if he knows it may be the last time he'll ever be there.

    Alzheimers is NOT pretty at all and I hope that his suffering is short and limited. I always liked Sparky Anderson. The man was a pretty good manager, well until late in his career when he compared every young ballplayer to a HOFer LOL! who brought a lot to the game.
    Member of the Official OS Bills Backers Club

    "Baseball is the most important thing that doesn't matter at all" - Robert B. Parker

    Comment

    • ImTellinTim
      YNWA
      • Sep 2006
      • 33028

      #3
      Re: Sparky Anderson

      Hopefully he gets through it with the least pain possible.

      As a kid growing up in Michigan in the 80's/early 90's, he was a legend to my dad and me. Sad to see it come to this.

      2194 wins, 3 World Series titles (all in years where only 4 teams made the playoffs). Enough said.
      Last edited by ImTellinTim; 11-03-2010, 10:36 PM.

      Comment

      • Scottdau
        Banned
        • Feb 2003
        • 32580

        #4
        Dementia is not really the same as Alzheimer. My grandma had it. And she got real mean. Hopefully he is not as mean, because it is hard on the love ones. My prayer and heart goes out to Sparky. He was an amazing manager.

        Comment

        • sergeantv
          Rookie
          • Sep 2002
          • 187

          #5
          Re: Sparky Anderson

          I second that dementia and Alzheimer's are different. My mom is in the opening stages of dementia and it's really messed up. I've done some research and there are differences.
          But as for sparky, I am a lifelong Mets fan and after the Harrelson/Rose altercation in the 73 playoffs, despised the Reds and anything about them. I couldn't stand Sparky or any of the players. But over the years, as I learned more about the game, I grew to respect and admire Sparky a whole lot. There is a book called "Game Six" which is about game 6 of the 75 series. It is extremely detailed. There is so much behind the thought processes of Sparky and it left thinking this guy was one of the most tremendous baseball minds out there. He and Bench were on the same page and they saw the game from angles most of us don't. I highly recommend the book.
          My thoughts are definitely with Sparky and family.
          Sarge

          Comment

          • Mo
            SSN
            • May 2003
            • 11425

            #6
            Re: Sparky Anderson

            Reports are that he's passed away
            Don't you EVER read my blog? It's gotten a lot better.

            Comment

            • Spider Tre
              Rookie
              • Aug 2010
              • 428

              #7
              Re: Sparky Anderson

              R.I.P. Sparky

              Comment

              • daflyboys
                Banned
                • May 2003
                • 18238

                #8
                Re: Sparky Anderson

                Oh my.... my first baseball love was the Big Red Machine and always loved seeing and hearing Sparky. I won't forget his superstitious skipping over the foul line on his visits to and from the mound. I was glad to see him make another successful run in Detroit. A true baseball icon.

                Comment

                • Scottdau
                  Banned
                  • Feb 2003
                  • 32580

                  #9
                  Sorry to hear he passed away.

                  Comment

                  • ghm125
                    john14:6
                    • Jul 2002
                    • 2439

                    #10
                    Re: Sparky Anderson

                    sparky was the man when i was a little kid...he brings back tons of memorys,with 75 and 76 reds...... old white hair man with a red face argiung with umps,just heard a story on our local radio when he argued with umps he kept his hands in back pockets..this was from an incident he had as a minor league coach where he actually wrestled an umpire to ground. so to keep from getting his hands on em he kept em in his back pocket after that..true or not.?.. i thought it was funny,if you can remember him at all...
                    VIOLATION!!!!!!!!

                    Comment

                    • SPTO
                      binging
                      • Feb 2003
                      • 68046

                      #11
                      Re: Sparky Anderson

                      R.I.P. to a great manager and one of the best storytellers i've ever heard. He used to come on the sports station here about once a month and talk current baseball and tell stories of the past. He truly was a treasure.

                      He also has a Toronto connection having played for the AAA Toronto Maple Leafs and later managing the team.
                      Member of the Official OS Bills Backers Club

                      "Baseball is the most important thing that doesn't matter at all" - Robert B. Parker

                      Comment

                      • Jackdog
                        Wolverine Soldier
                        • Aug 2002
                        • 7719

                        #12
                        Re: Sparky Anderson

                        Hate to hear Sparky is gone. Growing up watching Sparky win with the Big Red Machine turned me into a lifelong Reds fan. It was great to see him win with my hometown Tigers as well. RIP Captain Hook.
                        NFL:Packers
                        MLB:Reds/Tigers
                        NHL:Red Wings
                        NCAA:Michigan Wolverines.
                        F-1: Ferrari.

                        It's been a while OS. Hope all are doing well!

                        Comment

                        • SlimKibbles
                          Supporter
                          • Apr 2004
                          • 7276

                          #13
                          Re: Sparky Anderson

                          Local article on Sparky passing. It's a sad day in Reds Country. R.I.P. #10



                          As far as the Alzheimer's-dementia argument, you guys are probably right. In all honesty, reading your comments made me think how 3 of my grandparents who didn't have Alzheimer's all seemed to experience dementia shortly before passing away. My grandpa that had Alzheimer's never acted like that before he passed. He just didn't know who anybody was. Heck for the last two years or so of his life he didn't know who I was. I'd never wish anyone to ever get that way.
                          MLB: Cincinnati Reds
                          NFL: Cincinnati Bengals
                          NCAA Hoops: Xavier Musketeers
                          NCAA Football: Miami Hurricanes
                          NHL: Calgary Flames

                          "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." - Edmund Burke

                          "The wisest men follow their own direction." - Euripides

                          Comment

                          • Scottdau
                            Banned
                            • Feb 2003
                            • 32580

                            #14
                            The hardest one is when they become mean. But the saddest is when they don't know you anymore.

                            Comment

                            • ImTellinTim
                              YNWA
                              • Sep 2006
                              • 33028

                              #15
                              Re: Sparky Anderson

                              RIP, Spark.

                              Comment

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