Sparky Anderson

George Lee Anderson, better known as Sparky Anderson or Captain Hook, was a professional baseball player and manager. He was born February 22, 1934, in Bridgewater, South Dakota. He signed a professional contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers and toiled for six years in their minor league system before being acquired by the Philadelphia Phillies in December of 1958.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/andersp01.shtml

Anderson passed away at the age of 76 on November 4, 2010, in California. His death was a result of complications from dementia, for which he was placed in hospice care one day earlier. Anderson requested that no funeral or memorial service be held. He was survived by his wife, three children and nine grandchildren.http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5764168

Anderson played one season as a player, claiming a .218 average with the Phillies and went on to manage in the major leagues for 26 seasons; nine with the Cincinnati Reds and 17 with the Detroit Tigers.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/andersp01.shtml http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/andersp01.shtml

With the Reds he had a .596 winning percentage, 863 wins and 586 losses. His teams won four National League pennants and two World Series championships in nine seasons.http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5764168

As the manager of the Detroit Tigers, Anderson sported a .516 winning percentage; 1,331 wins against 1,248 losses. The team won an American League pennant and a World Series championship in 17 years. In 1984 and 1987, he was named American League Manager of the Year.http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/andersp01.shtml

Anderson retired after the 1995 season which had been shortened due to the 1994 strike. His lifetime record was 2194-1834, good for a .545 percentage.http://www.baseball-reference.com/managers/andersp01.shtml He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame as a manager in 2000. Although he spent the majority of his career with the Tigers, Anderson's Hall of Fame plaque shows him in a Cincinnati Reds uniform. This was due to him managing the "Big Red Machine" to two World Series championships.http://baseballhall.org/hof/anderson-sparky Anderson's number 10 was retired by the Reds and his Detroit number 11 has been inactive since he last wore it in 1995.http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/A/sparky-anderson.shtml

His career managerial record was regarded by many as one of the best ever after becoming the only manager to win World Series titles in both leagues as well as to lead teams in both leagues in career wins.http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5764168 He stood third all time in wins (2194), behind only Connie Mack and John McGraw, and 23rd in winning percentage (.545). He won seven division titles, five pennants, and three world championships. He was the first manager to win 800 games with two teams, Cincinnati and Detroit, and the first to win 100 games in a season.http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5764168

Anderson was traded on December 23, 1958, by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Philadelphia Phillies for Jim Golden, Rip Repulski and Gene Snyder. He opened the 1959 season as the starting second baseman of the Phillies.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/andersp01.shtml

While a Philadelphia Phillie, Anderson played his only season of Major League Baseball. He came to bat 477 times while playing in 152 games. His line for the year was nine doubles, three triples, no home runs, 42 walks and 34 RBIs. He also scored 42 runs and sported a .218 batting average, while being thrown out on six-of-nine stolen base attempts.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/andersp01.shtml

Playing as a second baseman, Anderson had a .984 fielding percentage and only 12 errors in 758 chances. He was also in on 70 double plays.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/andersp01.shtml

Anderson made his major league debut on April 10, 1959, and played his final game as a major league player on September 27, 1959.http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/a/andersp01.shtml