Sparky Anderson
| Sparky Anderson | |
|---|---|
Anderson with the Detroit Tigers, c. 1980s | |
| Second baseman / Manager | |
| Born: February 22, 1934 Bridgewater, South Dakota, U.S. | |
| Died: November 4, 2010 (aged 76) Thousand Oaks, California, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 10, 1959, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 27, 1959, for the Philadelphia Phillies | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .218 |
| Runs batted in | 34 |
| Managerial record | 2,194–1,834 |
| Winning % | .545 |
| Stats at Baseball Reference | |
| Managerial record at Baseball Reference | |
| Teams | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Member of the National | |
| Baseball Hall of Fame | |
| Induction | 2000 |
| Election method | Veterans Committee |
George Lee "Sparky" Anderson (February 22, 1934 – November 4, 2010) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) player, coach, and manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds from 1970 to 1978 and the American League's Detroit Tigers from 1979 to 1995. Anderson managed the Reds to two World Series championships in 1975 and 1976, then added a third title in 1984 with the Tigers. Anderson 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. In his 26 year career, Anderson had only 5 losing seasons as manager. His 1,331 wins with the Tigers are the most for any manager in team history. Anderson was named American League Manager of the Year in 1984 and 1987. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.