Sparky Anderson has died, and that’s the kind of news I don’t much care for.
I grew up obsessing (obsessing!) about the Cincinnati Reds, during the Big Red Machine years, and even got into a couple of fistfights with the disrespectful along the way. That team was a big part of my young life, and Sparky was the leader.
During the time, of course, there were no 24-hour cable TV networks, or any of that. So, I followed the team via radio. We lived inside “Reds country” so every game was broadcast locally. Marty Brennaman and Joe Nuxhall were the announcers, and they were practically members of our family. At least it felt that way.
When the Reds were playing on the West Coast, and the games started at 10:30 at night, I’d fall asleep listening. I had a weird-looking round radio on my nightstand, exactly like the one here, except white. And that was my spherical Cincinnati Reds delivery device.
One time Marty and Joe came to Charleston, as part of their pre-season barnstorming tour. They appeared at a local college, gave fans an update on what was happening and what we could expect during the upcoming season. Then they took questions from the audience.
A half-wit from Dunbar, a guy we sorta knew, stood up and shouted, “What about Bench?!” There was no context to his question, and Marty said, “What about him?” All of us about fell out of our chairs laughing. Wotta fantastic, fully-realized douche. Thirty years later, we still shout that question occasionally, at completely random times.
During Junior High I was at the height of my Reds obsession, and my parents always allowed me to skip school on opening day. And how cool is that? Back then the Reds opened every season, because they’re the oldest Major League team, with a day game. So, my folks allowed me to be “sick,” since it was practically a religious holiday for me.
But for some reason I went to school during the morning one year, then disappeared at lunch. The next day I was pulled into the vice-principal’s office, and he wanted to know what the hell I thought I was doing.
“It was opening day,” I shrugged.
The Enforcer eyed me for a couple of seconds, apparently deciding how to proceed, and finally said, “Billingham looked pretty good, didn’t he?” And we ended up talking about the Reds for fifteen minutes. Baseball, as it turned out, was a perfectly acceptable explanation for truancy.
And Sparky Anderson was at the middle of all the magic. I can still see him walking slowly to the mound, stepping carefully across the first base line because he was superstitious about such things, and signaling to the bullpen that a new pitcher was needed. He was an old-school baseball guy, who chewed tobacco, probably cursed like a sailor, and didn’t put up with any nonsense.
I didn’t know him personally, of course, but couldn’t have been more fond of the man.
No, I didn’t know Sparky Anderson, but I did meet him once. He made an appearance at a minor league baseball game in Charleston. I went, hoping to shake the great man’s hand. I also took along something I thought he might find interesting: a 1960 Topps baseball card, from his playing days.
I thought this prop might trigger an actual conversation, and when I was finally in Sparky’s presence I asked if he’d sign the card for me. I handed it to him, bracing for his reaction. But he just signed it, and passed it back to me. Bummer.
My dad and brother met him, too. We were in Cincinnati for a few Reds games, and Sparky came walking through the lobby of our hotel. My dad reportedly said, “What do you say, Spark?” And my brother almost swallowed his tongue.
But “Spark” stood there and chatted with them for a few minutes, and was very friendly, I’m told. The fact that I was still upstairs in the room, and missed this encounter, still pisses me off.
So, anyway… Sparky’s gone, along with another big chunk of my childhood. Tonight I shall hoist a vessel of the golden elixir in his honor. He was one of the greats, without question. And if you say anything different, we might need to take it outside.
I’ll see you guys next time.
Wow. I actually feel the need to say sorry for your loss, Jeff.
(that was sincere, by the way)
Good Afternoon Surf Reporters…
I always liked Sparky. He looked like a no bullshit type of guy. If you played well and listened to him, probably the nicest guy in the world. But screw up or get on his bad side, I bet he could have been one mean sumbitch.
Strange how you can feel for the loss of someone you don’t know isn’t it?
I met George Best, the Manchester United and Northern Ireland soccer player once and was so in awe I forgot how to speak. When I heard that he died I was absolutely gutted for ages afterwards.
Soccer?
I’m English, we don’t do baseball.
I bet it felt wrong in some way typing the word ‘soccer’!
Oops!
Spot on Ian. Typing “football” was just going to complicate thigs wasn’t it?
You a jock aren’t you? Where from mate?
the clue is in the name.
You’re from Ian? Ha ha!
They don’t make ’em like that anymore.
“…spherical Cincinnati Reds delivery device.” Simply excellent.
Thanks Jeff, RIP Sparky.
Anyone else notice there have been a lot of prominent deaths this year?
How’d he get the name “Sparky”?
Wow – and had just finished reading “Game Six” by Mark Frost about 10 days ago (it’s about the 1975 World Series).
BTW – icecyle – according to that book, he got the nickname for arguing with umpires long before he became a big leaguer. To wit, he ‘made the sparks fly’.
Sunuvabitch. The main Spark…….. 8^(
“People who live in the past generally are afraid to compete in the present. I’ve got my faults, but living in the past is not one of them. There’s no future in it.”
“Me carrying a briefcase is like a hotdog wearing earrings.”
Sparky Anderson
“Sparky’s nickname, “Captain Hook,” which referred to his practice of yanking his starters way earlier than most managers did in the early 70s……..Anderson should be remembered more for something else: ushering in the five-man rotation. The sea change from pitchers going from three-days rest to four days took place rather quickly between 1975 and 1976 when Anderson started giving his pitching staff extra days off. They happened to win the World Series both years, leading to most teams aping Anderson’s move.”….Craig Calcaterra, Hardball Talk.
C
I’m your age Jeff, always a baseball fan (Yankees for me), and felt the same way when I heard yesterday that he was put into hospice, then hearing today that he passed today. the man was a baseball genius, but not in the smug, condescending Tony LaRussa manner. he didn’t need for you to know he was the smartest gy in the dugout…his teams just showed it.
I feel the same way about that piece of our childhood.
Baseball hugs to you Jeff..
My condolences also, Jeff. No, it doesn’t feel weird to say so. I’m neither English nor much of a baseball fan, but I know it’s always sad when someone you liked-without-knowing dies. Like how I felt when Jean Shepherd died.
.
I’ll admit, up until about 1999 I really didn’t follow baseball, but since then I’ve embraced it and love it.
I really never knew who Sparky Anderson was until a few years ago, but I understand who he was. I remember a few years ago when Joe Nuxhall died and that just really sucked. I’m listening to 700WLW currently and listening to people like Marty Brennaman and Pete Rose tear up is really kind of getting to me.
All people can say is how much of a stand up guy he was, that says a lot about someone.
And I’ll be right outside there with Jeff if anyone says anything shitty about the man.
My condolences to Detroit, also.
>My condolences to Detroit, also.<
Mine too.
Now what's this about Sparky Anderson??
I read The Machine last year which was about the Big Red Machine and it was just an awesome book.
I’m on vacation and a few days behind. So here are some real band names that are pretty cool:
Uncle Knucklefunk
Spider Midget Bitch Frog
Screamin’ Cheetah Wheelies
Ghengis Tron
Optimus Rhyme
Thelonius Monkey
My all time favorite fake band name is still:
Free Beer
Not a baseball fan, but I can appreciate what this must mean to you Jeff. I’m having a cold one in Sparky’s honor for you.
My first baseball team growing up in Queens was the ’73 Ya Gotta Believe Mets when I was 9…I remember our 4th grade teacher brought a big table radio into the classroom and suspended class lessons that afternoon so we could listen to one of the Mets/Reds playoff games. I remember the Pete Rose/Bud Harrelson brawl like it was yesterday. And even at that young age, even as a Mets fan, I respected the Reds and their great manager, Sparky Anderson. And then 2 years later, that classic ’75 World Series against the Red Sox.
RIP Sparky.
Jeff, I am right there with you.
Sparky was, for all he says about his edumacation, a thinking man’s manager. He understood the game and was intelligent in a way we can’t ever calculate on an IQ test. I loved his attitude, fortitude, and really, honestly, just the way he carried himself. RIP Sparky,
Over and out, from a Red Sox fan, by the way, who appreciates Game Six but knows which team won one of the greatest World Series ever played.
Jeff… I feel for ya, man. Even though I was a Yankee fan, I still had a huge amount of respect for the Reds and especially Sparky Himself. He was a Baseball Guy, someone who probably knew everything about baseball, but little about the rest of the world.
His teams didn’t just win, they steamrolled. Just remember how the ’84 Detroit Tigers went wire-to-wire. Sparky was a pro.
I, for one, was shocked that he was only 76. I assumed he was that old in ’84…
Joe
I’m with you there Joe, I would have thought Sparky was in his 60’s when Detroit won the WS in ’84.
Yeah, I’m totaly with you guys. Besides the World Series games, I probably remember him best from his appearance on “WKRP in Cincinati.” He looked like he was in his 60s back in the 1970s. On the show, he really appeared to be himself…just a really cool guy who did what he thought was right, and didn’t put up with any crap. RIP Sparky!
As a life long Pirate fan I HATED the big red machine from Sparky to Rose I Hated them!
Man they were good.
Man those were some good playoff series back before they created the Central division.
Jeff, my condolences.
This year ranks pretty high on the suckage meter with prominent deaths.
RIP, Mr. Anderson.
Sparky Anderson ripping the media. Very funny, but be warned, Sparky had a way with words that you probably don’t want your kids to hear:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgJ2jFVp1bc
Sounds like my boss going over the sales numbers
Listening to that short clip shows why the players liked playing for Sparky. He was a man’s man who didn’t put up with anyone’s shit.
Holy Crap! He sure let ’em have it!
RIP Sparky.
I too had the Reds obsession. The announcers were the best ever. I believe that is was Joe Nuxall and Al Michaels in the early 70s. Joe was like listening to the smoothest voice ever heard and Al would go crazy when things got exciting.
I remember a game in either the 73 or 74 season where Bench hit a grand slam on a 3-2 pitch in the bottom of the ninth to win the game 6-5. Michaels went totally berserk.
“…the 3-2 pitch, SWUNG ON AND HIT INTO DEEP LEFT FIELD! AND IS IT, IS IT, IS IT, IT’S GONE!!!”
He then stammered a little and calmed down a bit and continued the commentary.
The sound clip was used for the rest of the season when Reds games were advertised on the radio.
Ah, the good old days. Falling asleep listening to games with my little AM radio under my pillow.
Actually it was the 1972 playoffs when Bench hit the home run.
I am not a baseball fan allthough my dad did take us to see the Reds a couple times when I was a kid. Sorry Jeff.
I am so glad to be back at the site. for some bizzarre reason i could not get to it from work for MONTHS and assumed the IT Nazi’s had blocked it but i checked today and blammo……here i am. I am so excited i could pee.
“What about Bench?” – the late, great Greg “Skull” Lytton, circa 1977. He can actually ask Sparky that question directly now.
I remember Skull. He always seemed to be angry and bitching about something. Half-wits are usually sweet , innocent but Skull was always giving someone hell. LOL He was one of a kind ! How ’bout Puh ? Dunbar had their fair share .
WHY WON’T THIS DAY EVER END!!!?
I once asked Marty brennaman about my god damn box scores!
Autopsy results have concluded as expected that George “Sparky” Anderson had extremely high levels of Baseball in his blood at the time of his death. Perhaps due to a life long addiction and love of the game. Elevated levels of Competitiveness were also found along with a rare mixture of Crustiness, Scrappiness and rarely seen Compassion in such a form. Closer examination reveled “Sparky” had unusual amounts of Nice Guy cells and Don”t Fuck with Me cells, all in perfect balance. It was also concluded that whenever he gets to where he’s going…they would be wise to listen to him where he gets there.
My condolences Jeff.
Its strange when someone who has been around for ages dies. Especially when they are from another, possibly better, time.
Dennis Hopper ‘popped his clogs’ the other week. He’s another sad loss.
He personified a lot of what I think is good about the USA. eg personal freedom, craziness, eccentricity, a classless society and just plain good fun.
He was another good guy who the world will have a hard job replacing.
Ok so I’m a day late but I know you’ll read this anyway. I wasn’t around a computer yesterday so you get my comment today.
We used to go to a Reds game 1-2 times a year growing up and I also remember those “Big Red Machine” days. Breaks my heart that Sparky Anderson is gone. I think the last game I went to was our senior trip. I have pictures in storage somewhere of some of us at Riverfront Stadium. I’ll have to look next time I go to SC and check my storage for the pictures, there might even be one of Jeff & Bill!!