Sparky Anderson passes away

[farmer]

Former Detroit Tigers manager Sparky Anderson has been placed in hospice care at his Thousands Oaks, Calif. home for complications resulting from dementia.

As Sparky Anderson battles with dementia, Anderson family's said in a statement Wednesday they appreciate the support and kindness that friends and fans have shown throughout the Hall of Famer's career and retirement.

No further details were released.

Anderson guided the Tigers to a World Series title in 1984 and led them for 17 seasons.

The former Cincinnati Reds skipper was the first manager to win more than 100 games in a season in the American and National leagues. He has 2,194 career wins.

[Orange and Brown]

Sparky was the reason the "Big Red Machine" was so good. He was the best manager in Reds history and one of the best in MLB history. My thoughts and prayers are with his family......Looks like the Reds family has another legend rounding 3rd and heading for home one last time........God Bless you Sparky Anderson...Nuxy's waiting on ya

[2trap_4ever]

Sparky was the reason the "Big Red Machine" was so good. He was the best manager in Reds history and one of the best in MLB history. My thoughts and prayers are with his family......Looks like the Reds family has another legend rounding 3rd and heading for home one last time........God Bless you Sparky Anderson...Nuxy's waiting on ya

Couldn't say it any better.

[dazed&confused]

Sparky was always underestimated as a manager. It was said in his time he was a push-button manager and anyone could win with that talent. Anyone who watched his moves, especially cheating Rose up the third base line in the 76 Series against Mickey Rivers never doubted his acumen as a baseball guy and a genius. Godspeed Sparky!

[The General]

Hell to get old and sick....Sparky...what a great,great baseball man.None any better.

[Space Cowboy]

Sparky was the reason the "Big Red Machine" was so good. He was the best manager in Reds history and one of the best in MLB history. My thoughts and prayers are with his family......Looks like the Reds family has another legend rounding 3rd and heading for home one last time........God Bless you Sparky Anderson...Nuxy's waiting on ya

:aaaaa41 :aaaaa41 :aaaaa41 :aaaaa41 :aaaaa41 :aaaaa41 :aaaaa41 :aaaaa41 :aaaaa41

[mister b]

Coming from a Pirate fan, Sparky was one of the best.

[farmer]

Sparky has rounded 3rd and has made it home.
Sparky Anderson died earlier today. Now he gets to join back up with some of the Greats in baseball history.

[Orange and Brown]

RIP Sparky!

Baseball just won't be the same........

[oldtrojan]

Rest in Peace Sparky!!

[91blue14]

i think he was the first manager to win the world series in the AL and NL.

[Orange and Brown]

i think he was the first manager to win the world series in the AL and NL.

He was also the first manager to win 100 games in both leagues.

[Steely Dan]

God rest his soul.

[mister b]

RIP Sparky

[Orange and Brown]

There will never be another skipper like Sparky...He earned your respect the second you shook his hand. He would talk baseball with anyone anytime, and he loved his players. I had the Honor and privalidge to meet Sparky back in 1993...He talked baseball with me in a hotel lobby for an hour and a half. I grew up eating and sleeping baseball. I learned more in that hour and a half than I had ever learned up until that point and since. I walked away in awe, and from that day on I found a new love for baseball....

[mister b]

You are correct that Al Michaels was play by play prior to Marty.

As a kid, I used to fall asleep listening to the Reds on WPAR 1450 AM when they were on a west coast swing because no local station that I could receive carried the Pirates.

[dazed&confused]

I wonder if anyone remembers who teamed up with Nuxy before Marty Brennaman?

You would have to be near 50 years old to have much of a memory of those years and those teams, but outside of Waite Hoyte, I never heard another radio man who could call a game like AL MICHAELS. He broadcast Reds games with "the Old Southpaw," for three seasons (1971-73) and the man was silky smooth at "painting the picture."

Those were the days my friend' I thought they'd never end............................

Waiting to hear Michaels lament the passing of his old friend.

Yes...I stll remeber his call of Johnny Bench's homer in the bottom of the ninth in Game 5 (deciding game) of the 72 National League Championship against the Pirates... He did it! He did it! He did it! Bench actually tied the score. Bob Moose allowed the winning run on a wild pitch which prompted the most memorable baseball headline I personally ever read..Reds win on Wild Moose.

[Black Panther]

You are correct that Al Michaels was play by play prior to Marty.

As a kid, I used to fall asleep listening to the Reds on WPAR 1450 AM when they were on a west coast swing because no local station that I could receive carried the Pirates.

You couldn't pick KDKA up at night??

[Yossarian]

The golden age of Reds baseball. What a great baseball man he was. To handle all those egos and win like they did was a masterpiece.