13 replies to this topic

[ADog]

One of the best managers in MLB passed away today. Sparky Anderson was an ole school type of manger, "a players coach"....Only manager to takes teams in each league to win the World Series , and was one of the most liked managers of all time. He had 2228 wins in his career and was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000

RIP Sparky

[ohioguy102474]

May he RIP....

[dhsdawg06]

One of the best managers in MLB passed away today. Sparky Anderson was an ole school type of manger, "a players coach"....Only manager to takes teams in each league to win the World Series , and was one of the most liked managers of all time. He had 2228 wins in his career and was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000

RIP Sparky

Not to nitpick or diminish what he accomplished, but he was actually just the first. Tony LaRussa did it in 2006. Actually no matter what, it would have been done in 06 with either LaRussa or Leyland.

Still, RIP Sparky. You were the first manager I can remember, and although the Tigers already sucked by the time I really got into baseball you helped turn this guy into a lifelong Tiger fan. Definitely one of the all time greats.

[roarintiger1]

Sparky "swung and missed" on quite a few rookies, who he thought were really, really good. The name Chris Pitaro, comes to mind for one such player.
Sparky really did well "with" talent however.

[RWB 71]

The thing I admired most about Sparky's managing was the way he tried to play his entire roster, it really helped the morale in Tigertown. In their "wire to wire" 84 season it seemed like it was a different hero each win.

[roarintiger1]

RWB 71, Got to agree with you on that one!

[ADog]

Reported in today's paper, the Detroit Tigers will be retiring Sparky's number this upcoming season. Along with that the team will wear Sparky's # 11 on their jersey commemorating him. A flag will be raised with his name on it at the home opener.

[dhsdawg06]

It's about time, should have been done a few years ago.

While they're at it why not make it another celebration of the 84 team and retire Tram, Whitaker, Morris, and Sparky all at once?

[ADog]

It's about time, should have been done a few years ago.

While they're at it why not make it another celebration of the 84 team and retire Tram, Whitaker, Morris, and Sparky all at once?

As a long time Tiger fan, I could go along with your suggestion..............

[lepiota]

It's about time, should have been done a few years ago.

While they're at it why not make it another celebration of the 84 team and retire Tram, Whitaker, Morris, and Sparky all at once?

I'm a Reds fan so excuse me if I don't know Tiger history that well, but it those greats don't have retired numbers, it makes me wonder who does. I would assume Ty Cobbs is, but what about Al Kaline, Denny McClain, or "Stormin" Norman Cash?

[dhsdawg06]

I'm a Reds fan so excuse me if I don't know Tiger history that well, but it those greats don't have retired numbers, it makes me wonder who does. I would assume Ty Cobbs is, but what about Al Kaline, Denny McClain, or "Stormin" Norman Cash?

Cobb's name's on the wall, but he played before they had numbers. They also have Harry Heilmann, Heine Manush, Hughie Jennings, Sam Crawford, Mickey Cochrane, George Kell, and Ernie Harwell's names on the right field wall, but none of them have officially had numbers retired.

Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, Al Kaline, Hal Newhouser, and Willie Horton are the only ones with actual numbers retired.

[lepiota]

Cobb's name's on the wall, but he played before they had numbers. They also have Harry Heilmann, Heine Manush, Hughie Jennings, Sam Crawford, Mickey Cochrane, George Kell, and Ernie Harwell's names on the right field wall, but none of them have officially had numbers retired.

Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, Al Kaline, Hal Newhouser, and Willie Horton are the only ones with actual numbers retired.

Forgot about Willie Horton, he was obviously a good one. And Greenburg's 181 RBI will probably never be topped. However, I wasn't aware his career numbers were worthy of a retired number.

[MrWCF]

Cobb's name's on the wall, but he played before they had numbers. They also have Harry Heilmann, Heine Manush, Hughie Jennings, Sam Crawford, Mickey Cochrane, George Kell, and Ernie Harwell's names on the right field wall, but none of them have officially had numbers retired.

Charlie Gehringer, Hank Greenberg, Al Kaline, Hal Newhouser, and Willie Horton are the only ones with actual numbers retired.

I don't understand why the Tigers have not retired Harry Heilmann's number. His career batting average is .342, 11th highest in history, and the 2nd highest average for a right-handed batter in the modern era. He was the first player to hit a home run in every park in use during his career. He and Ted Williams were the last two American Leaguers to hit .400. During the 20's, he won four batting titles with averages of .394, .403, .393, and .398. I suppose that these days nobody remembers who he was, but if anyone deserves to have his number retired, "Slug" deserves it. (By the way, I know that the Tigers didn't have uniform numbers when Heilmann played for them, but during his last season in 1932 with the Reds, he wore number 22, so that's the number I'd like to see retired in his name by the Tigers.)

Edited by MrWCF, 23 February 2011 - 02:20 PM.