SPARKY ON HALL SPEED DIAL HE SHOULD GET CALL TUESDAY.Byline: Kevin Modesti THOUSAND OAKS Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. - The essential story about George ``Sparky'' Anderson and his suburban home of 33 years concerns the winter day a pair of strangers tailed him from the neighborhood Thrifty and parked in front of his house. Anderson approached the car and asked if he could help. One of the men said he was a baseball fan from Michigan who just wanted to see where the Detroit Tigers' manager lived. They talked sports for a few minutes. Then the tourist from Michigan summed up his brief sightseeing experience. ``I'm a little disappointed,'' he said to Anderson, ``in the house.'' He explained that he expected the great Sparky spark·y adj. spark·i·er, spark·i·est Animated; lively. spark  i·ly adv. , making $1 million a year in Detroit, to spend offseasons in
something more palatial pa·la·tial adj. 1. Of or suitable for a palace: palatial furnishings. 2. Of the nature of a palace, as in spaciousness or ornateness: a palatial yacht. . ``I went inside and told Carol, `Some guy just said he's disappointed in the house!'' Anderson recalled a few days ago. ``She said, `He didn't!' I said, `He did!' '' Suffice to say the Andersons weren't shamed into moving - and probably never will move. It's only Sparky's baseball legacy that's about to get a fancy new address. Barring a miscarriage of justice A legal proceeding resulting in a prejudicial out-come. A miscarriage of justice arises when the decision of a court is inconsistent with the substantive rights of a party. , the lone manager to win World Series with teams from both major leagues will receive his ticket to Cooperstown on Tuesday, when the veterans committee is scheduled to meet in Tampa to select new members for the Hall of Fame. The telephone call should come late in the morning, the official invitation for Anderson to be inducted on July 23, along with his old Cincinnati Reds first baseman Tony Perez, voted into the Hall of Fame by writers in January. The anticipation will force a rare break from Anderson's daily routine. ``I'll be nervous (awaiting the call), yes, very nervous, I wouldn't kid nobody,'' Anderson said, animated as ever, in the lunch room at Sunset Hills Country Club, where he plays golf a three-minute drive from his house. ``People ask me, do you want it? Absolutely! ``That's something that stays here for eternity. Until God decides to destroy this world, your ancestors will always be able to go there and see you. Can you imagine your grandkids - and their grandkids - saying, `Man, my grandpa, he's up there!' That's quite a thing. ``I don't mean you would walk with any arrogance,'' he added. ``But I'll tell you this: Inside you'll walk prouder than a peacock.'' If Anderson, who turned 66 last Tuesday Last Tuesday is a Christian melodic punk rock band hailing from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. They played their final show on March 10th, 2007. Last Tuesday was formed in 1999 in Harrisburg, P.A. , were inclined toward arrogance, he could have started long before now. In addition to winning World Series with the National League's Reds (1975-76) and the American League's Tigers (1984), he's the only manager to record 100-win seasons in both leagues (Cincinnati, 1970, 1975, 1976, and Detroit, 1984), and trails only Connie Mack Connie Mack can refer to three different people:
John Joseph McGraw, McGraw in career victories (2,194). Arrogance? He walks and talks with what seems to be a practiced modesty, saying he never considered his Hall of Fame chances until a couple of years before his 1995 retirement, and continuing to speak with uncertainty (``if that would happen . . .'') about making it. Arrogance bugs him. ``The trouble with the people who are more fortunate (is) they think that's the way it's supposed to be,'' Anderson said, shifting in his chair. ``They just happen to be more fortunate. I don't pretend to be better than anybody. But I do know I was more fortunate. ``I know that if I hadn't gone to Cincinnati in 1970, you wouldn't be asking me about the Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame for what, painters?'' Anderson's dad was a house painter. He moved the family from Bridgewater, S.D., population 632, to Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. when George was 9. They lived a block and a half from USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. and George became the batboy bat·boy n. A boy who is employed by a baseball team to look after its equipment, especially the bats. for Rod Dedeaux's Trojans. George rode the bus to Dorsey High, instead of his neighborhood school, because Dorsey had a baseball team. ``I would not trade one moment of my time at 35th and Vermont,'' Anderson said. ``It made me understand all the different types of people. All people are good and all people are bad. You can't label people.'' He and Carol, whom he'd met in grade school, had lived in Canoga Park while he worked the assortment of coaching, minor-league managing and non-baseball jobs that bridged his Pacific Coast League For the high school sports league, see . The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a minor league baseball league operating in the West and Midwest of the United States. It is one of two leagues, along with the International League, playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below playing days and the start of his 26-year major-league managing career. ``We couldn't afford to buy in the (San Fernando San Fernando, city, Argentina San Fernando (săn fərnăn`dō), city (1991 pop. 144,761), Buenos Aires prov., E Argentina. It is a district administrative center in the Greater Buenos Aires area. ) Valley. And we couldn't afford to buy here (in Thousand Oaks) except my father-in-law gave us $8,000,'' Anderson said. ``People ask, `How come you stayed? You have that same house.' I say, `One, out of fear of my father-in-law.' He helped us build this house. I didn't know what he'd think if we moved.'' Anderson came home to Thousand Oaks for good in 1995, resigning from the Tigers at the end of the season, worn out by a weak team and the lingering unpleasantness of the strike, during which he'd taken a principled stand and forfeited $150,000 in salary by refusing to manage a ``replacement'' team in spring training. ``What in the heck am I doing here?'' he'd thought while wearily watching ``Oprah'' in a hotel room in Chicago one day that summer, ``when I could be home, starting to learn to enjoy life?'' Not until July 1999, when he needed triple-bypass surgery after feeling ill during a celebrity golf tournament in Ann Arbor Ann Arbor, city (1990 pop. 109,592), seat of Washtenaw co., S Mich., on the Huron River; inc. 1851. It is a research and educational center, with a large number of government and industrial research and development firms, many in high-technology fields such as , Mich., did Anderson realize the fatigue that prompted his retirement at 61 might have been caused by his heart. ``The way I feel right now,'' he said seven months after the surgery, ``if that had been back then, like an idiot I'd still be working.'' After the surgery, Anderson had to make some changes, giving the hook to Mexican food, cheeseburgers, pizza and his beloved pipe, as quickly as he used to give the hook to wild pitchers. His day begins before 7 a.m. with an hour's walk through the neighborhood. Then, a breakfast heavy on juices and fruit. Next, errands, and then, five days a week, 18 holes at Sunset Hills. He walks the course, too, now. He calculates he walks 35 miles a week. His stint as an Angels TV analyst is over. ``Me, broadcasting, is the Peter Principle,'' he said. ``If I wasn't Sparky Anderson Among his friends, and in his family of three children and 14 grandchildren, he is George, not Sparky. The nickname attached to him by a minor-league radio announcer in the 1950s applies to the extroverted ex·tro·vert·ed also ex·tra·vert·ed adj. Marked by interest in and behavior directed toward others or the environment as opposed to or to the exclusion of self; gregarious or outgoing: public figure, not the introverted in·tro·vert·ed adj. Marked by interest in or preoccupation with oneself or one's own thoughts as opposed to others or the environment. homebody home·bod·y n. pl. home·bod·ies One whose interests center on the home. Noun 1. homebody - a person who seldom goes anywhere; one not given to wandering or travel stay-at-home who often is in his pajamas pajamas Noun, pl US pyjamas pajamas npl (US) → pijama msg; piyama msg (LAM in time for the 6 o'clock news. He rarely ventures into Los Angeles, claims never to have been to ``an L.A. party,'' and leaves California for speaking engagements reluctantly. Companies pay him to connect dugout wisdom to business, and he tells them what he thinks - whether they like it or not. ``I think so many CEOs make a terrible mistake. They want the people working for them to understand them,'' Anderson said. ``The CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. that's good at his job understands his workers. The only way you can ever have respect (from employees) is if you earn it.'' What makes a good manager or coach, he'll tell the businessmen, is getting good players to follow you. ``I laugh in hysterics hysterics /hys·ter·ics/ (his-ter´iks) popular term for an uncontrollable emotional outburst. when I see (managers) with their books (of statistics),'' Anderson said. ``We are not Harvard professors, and my IQ might be 35. But you don't need an IQ to manage. All you need is a pair of eyes and the ability to talk to somebody. ``Baseball is so simple. There's two kinds of managers. There's the `moron' who gets bad players and loses. Then there's the `Einstein' who gets good players and lets them - lets them - win a lot of games, and hangs around a long time. ``You've got to have talent and them get 'em to follow you,'' he said. ``The impact of a Johnny Wooden is he made them follow him. I think Phil Jackson's doing that now with the Lakers. He's (saying), `Just follow me. Give it a chance.' If you can get talent to follow you, oh my goodness . . .'' They'll follow you all the way to the Hall of Fame. Anderson's teams twice played exhibition games near the Hall of Fame. He attended Tom Lasorda's induction in 1997. (Lasorda was eligible for the Hall of Fame as soon as he retired because he was over 65. Anderson has had to wait until five years after he retired.) But Anderson has never actually been inside the Hall of Fame. In a nod to superstition, he decided never to tour it until he became a member. That should happen Tuesday. If he belongs anywhere but in Thousand Oaks, it's in Cooperstown. Baseball . . . according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Sparky Which other manager he'd like to see in the Hall of Fame: ``If I had a vote, there's only one person I'd vote for, and that's Gene Mauch Gene William Mauch (November 18, 1925 – August 8, 2005) was an American Major League Baseball player and manager, and the holder of the record for most seasons managed without a pennant (breaking the record formerly held by Jimmy Dykes). . He might be under .500. But he's what, sixth in games managed? Longevity is so important. He couldn't help it that he (had) bad clubs. That (1964) Philadelphia team had no business being there the final week, and everybody said he `collapsed.' That was a great job. He did a great job here (with the Angels). This guy was the most innovative manager I ever managed against.'' Pete Rose tr.v. in·crim·i·nat·ed, in·crim·i·nat·ing, in·crim·i·nates 1. To accuse of a crime or other wrongful act. 2. ) material on him as a player, bring it forward. If they don't, then let him be voted on as a player . . . and forget he ever managed.'' Tom Lasorda, Anderson's old minor-league teammate and managing rival: ``I hear people say, `He changed (with success).' I played with him for two years, and he had that gift of gab gift of gab n. The ability to talk readily, glibly, and convincingly. then and he's got it now. Tommy can only be Tommy. Tommy Lasorda
The Dodgers: ``I think they're going to be much better this year. Davey (Johnson) has a chance to know those people. Everything is squared away. (Shawn) Green is a good young player. I like them.'' The Angels: ``I'll really pull for Mike (Scioscia) this year. He's a great kid. Their whole thing is whether they get any pitching. They've got a good offensive ball club. If they get any pitching, they can make a race out of that. Seattle's been hurt by (Ken) Griffey (Jr.). Texas lost Gonzalez. There's some teams that got weakened.'' The Cincinnati Reds: ``I pick them to win the National League. Griffey is so good, he can turn things. And they won 96 games last year.'' John Rocker: ``It's up to Mr. Rocker now to get back through to (his Atlanta Braves The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Braves have played in Turner Field. teammates). I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. if he can or he can't. I don't think John Rocker could get one single person of any intelligence to stand alongside him and say what he said was right.'' The state of baseball: ``I think it's basically all the way back (from the strike). You have to give credit to (Sammy) Sosa and (Mark) McGwire. I think in two more years baseball will go over the NFL NFL abbr. National Football League NFL (US) n abbr (= National Football League) → Fußball-Nationalliga again . . . (The dominance of high-salaried teams) might be good in a way. When the Yankees come to town, you pack the joint.'' SPARKY BY THE NUMBERS 3 World Series championships. Cincinnati Reds, 1975, 1976; Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are a professional baseball team based in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers are a member of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Tigers have played in Comerica Park. 1984 2,194 Career wins as a manager in both the American League American League (AL) One of the two associations of professional baseball teams in the U.S. and Canada designated as major leagues; the other is the National League (NL). and National League .545 Career regular-season winning percentage. .618 Career winning percentage in the League Championship Series and the World Series CAREER NUMBERS Here's a look at Anderson's year-by-year and career records as a manager: Cincinnati Year W L Pct. 1970 102 60 .630 1971 79 83 .488 1972 95 59 .617 1973 99 63 .611 1974 98 64 .605 1975 108 54 .667 1976 102 60 .630 1977 88 74 .543 1978 92 69 .571 Detroit Year W L Pct. 1979 56 50 .528 1980 84 78 .519 1981 60 49 .550 1982 83 79 .512 1983 92 70 .568 1984 104 58 .642 1985 84 77 .522 1986 87 75 .537 1987 98 64 .605 1988 88 74 .543 1989 59 104 .364 1990 79 83 .488 1991 84 78 .519 1992 75 87 .463 1993 85 77 .525 1994 53 62 .461 1995 60 84 .417 SPARKY THROUGH THE YEARS 1959 - In his only major-league season, he hit .218 with no homers and 34 RBI RBI abbr. Baseball runs batted in Noun 1. rbi - a run that is the result of the batter's performance; "he had more than 100 rbi last season" run batted in in 152 games for the Philadelphia Phillies. 1970 - Cincinnati Reds GM Bob Howsam surprised many by hiring Anderson as manager. In Anderson's first season, the Reds won 102 games and finished 14 1/2 games ahead of the Dodgers. The Reds swept Pittsburgh in the NLCS NLCS National League Championship Series (baseball) NLCS North Lawrence Community Schools (various locations, USA) NLCS National Landscape Conservation System and then lost to Baltimore in five games for the World Series title. 1975 - Anderson's Big Red Machine was working at full force. Cincinnati won division titles in 1972 and '73, losing 4-3 to Oakland in the `72 World Series. But this year would be the first of two consecutive World Series titles for the Reds, who defeated Boston 4-3. 1976 - After winning 108 games in `75, the Reds won 102 and another World Series, sweeping Philadelphia 3-0 in the NLCS and the Yankees 4-0 in the WS. 1979 - After being fired by the Reds after the 1978 season, Anderson is hired by Detroit a third of the way through the 1979 season when the Tigers fired first-year manager Les Moss. 1984 - The Tigers joined the Murderers Row Yankees of 1927 as the only AL team to hold first place from start to finish. The team was 35-5 by mid-May and defeated Kansas City in the ALCS ALCS American League Championship Series (baseball) ALCS Authors' Licensing and Collecting Society (UK) ALCS Airborne Launch Control System and San Diego for the Tigers' first World Series title since 1968 and made Anderson the first manager to win titles in both leagues. 1987 - Detroit won 104 games and a division title, Anderson's last in the Major Leagues. The Tigers lost 4-1 to Minnesota in ALCS 1995 - Anderson retires after the season with the Tigers finishing 60-84 in his final season. CAPTION(S): 7 photos, 2 boxes, 1 chart Photo: (1 -- color-- cover) no caption (Sparky Anderson) (2 -- color) Sparky Anderson relaxes at the Sunset Hills Country Club in Thousand Oaks, where he plays golf five days a week. Evan Yee/Staff Photographer (3 -- color) Sparky Anderson stands during national anthem at the last home game of the 1995 season at Tiger Stadium in Detroit. He retired after the season. Tom Pidgeon/Associated Press (4 -- 6) no captions (Sparky Anderson at different stages of career) (7) Sparky Anderson waves to the crowd after Detroit earns its 100th win in the 1984 season. A World Series title followed. Associated Press File Photo Box: (1) Sparky on baseball (see text) (2) Sparky through the years (see text) Chart: Sparky by the numbers/Career Numbers (see text) |
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