A news by 4usnews:Sparky Anderson, the all-time leader among the leaders of the Tigers in wins, visibility and fantastic quotes, was placed in hospice care, according to a statement released today from his family.......
The family said Anderson suffers from complications associated with dementia, and he was at his home in Thousand Oaks, California.......
“This type of disease that affects over time,” said family representative, Dan Ewald, who was in California with Anderson about three weeks ago..........
The statement also says: Anderson family – his wife Carol, sons Lee and Albert, and daughter Shirley Englebrecht – “would like to thank all friends and fans for their support and kindness they showed Sparky’s career and retirement.,,,,,
Ewald, who was friends with Anderson for 35 years, spent about a week with Anderson in October. They talked about some old times they shared in baseball during the trip.
One of the stories the pair experienced was a trip to Minnesota to play the Twins in 1987. They caught a taxi to go to the stadium. Ewald paid the fare and wanted to give the driver an extra bonus, because they were in the playoffs.
The next day, two grabbed another taxi and somehow the same driver. On the way to the ballpark, Anderson and Ewald were pushing each other’s signaling they wanted to make a joke driver. The two began talking loudly about how bad they are going to beat the Twins, so the driver, who was a fan of Twins, listen to them and say something.
The driver looked at Anderson and said: “No, I did not recognize him, but I recognize you. You gave me a great tip the other day.” It gave Anderson a good laugh.
“Little stories in baseball, in particular with Sparky, are those that are most valuable,” said Ewald.
Anerson managed the Tigers in mid-season 1979 to 1995. His 17 seasons, most in club history. Second place is Hughie Jennings, who managed the Tigers Ty Cobb for 14 seasons in the first part of the 20 th century. Anderson Jennings beat the record for most wins manager of the Tigers by 200 .........
Throughout the years of near or at the top of the baseball in his 2000 election to the Hall of Fame, Anderson dismissed the conditioning of celebrities, no matter how he became prominent. He always seemed happy to see people he knew – and I do not know how they did it to see it.
Bridgewater, SD, native, born George Lee Anderson, was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000, deflecting credit for the honor.
“Players who earn their way into the Hall of Fame,” he sad in his speech in Cooperstown, New York “Managers like me, we just ride in the back.”
The second baseman, Anderson played one season for 1959 Phillies. He managed the Cincinnati Reds 1970-78, winning the World Series in 1975 and 1976. He was appointed manager of the American League in the year in 1984 and 1987. His record was the 1331 Tigers wins, 1248 losses.
After he left, Tigers, Anderson kept in touch with Michigan through CATCH, the organization he started in 1987, which raises money to help sick children and risk. Over the years, Anderson returned to the annual golf event CATCH in Northville.
Since its inception, the catch call of about $ 4 million Henry Ford Hospital and Children’s Hospital of Michigan with support from players and sponsors sch as Ford Motor Co. and Toyota Motor Sales USA.
This is one of the best I’ve ever done in Detroit, “Anderson said Carol Kane free press in August 2008Dtroiters give more charity dollars than any other city you can name, Anderson said during an interview. “Not only is my charity, but charitable organizations.”
Anderson returned to Detroit in the 2006 World Series, Tigers first time since his team won in 1984. In addition, he returned in September 2009 to 25 th reunion of ’84 champions.
Twenty-four members gathered for a dinner and celebration at Comerica Park. Alan Trammell. Lance Parrish. Kirk Gibson. Darrell Evans. Jack Morris. But it was their then-75-year-old manager who got the biggest applause of the fans.
It was great to see, Sparky so excited,” Gibson said at the time. It was one thing that struck us all to dinner....
Go back to freep.com for more on this developing story....
Sparky on the Tigers games this year
Sparky Anderson made one of his last public appearances earlier this year, May 22, when the Tigers play the Dodgers in interleague play in Los Angeles.
Free Press sports writer John Lowe said:....
Tigers generations to meet before the game Saturday in visiting dugout at Dodger Stadium, as Austin Jackson met Sparky Anderson.....
Anderson went on the field for about an hour earlier, during batting practice with the Tigers manager Jim Leyland.....
Anderson, who lives a bit north of Los Angeles in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He was lighter than he was as a manager. But on Saturday, as usual, he was dressed sharply (sport coat and trousers), and the electricity flowed through his eyes, his voice and smile.....
Anderson and Leyland was something like a lively chat with Dodgers manager Joe Torre. Many conversations later, Anderson chatted on a bench Tigers with coach Tom Brookens, who played 10 seasons for Anderson in Detroit.....
But for some reason perhaps because he spoke with baseball continuity and renewal the most significant moment of the visit Anderson on the field came to Jackson, a 23-year-old rookie centerfielder......
Take those glasses with” Anderson said Jackson, with managerial greatness.
Jackson smiled, took off his glasses.
Anderson looked at Jackson and said: “There is something about the (eye), which makes them bright.....
As Jackson continued to listen and smile, Anderson told him: “You have it all. You have everything.....
