Sparky Anderson

George Lee “Sparky” Anderson (February 22, 1934 – November 4, 2010)

Reds fans will remember Sparky Anderson for three things: The way he was hired, the way he was fired, and everything in between.

He was “Sparky Who?” in the headlines when he was hired as a 35-year-old no-name manager at the end of the 1969 season.

After his firing nine years later, he was mourned by fans throughout Reds Country as though they’d lost a loved one.

In between, the “Main Spark” (a nickname he picked up from the name of his pre-game radio show) led the Reds to five divisional crowns, four World Series appearances and two world championships.

He was also the  first manager in Major League Baseball history to win World Series titles in both leagues

Anderson died Thursday at his home in Thousand Oaks, Calif., of complications from dementia. He was 76.

Thanks Sparky, you will always be a big part of why I’m a baseball fan

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