Sparky Anderson Biography

George Lee Sparky Anderson was born on February 22, 1934, and passed away on November 4, 2010, as an American Major League Baseball player, coach, and manager. He served as manager for the National League's Cincinnati Reds from 1970 to 1978 and later led the American League's Detroit Tigers from 1979 to 1995. Anderson guided the Reds to World Series victories in 1975 and 1976, and he secured a third title in 1984 while managing the Tigers. He remains the first manager to win the World Series in both the National and American Leagues. Over his 26-year managerial career, Anderson had only five seasons with a losing record. His American Legion team captured the 1951 national championship, a game held at Briggs Stadium in Detroit. The Phillies assigned him to their starting second base role, and he played his only full season in the major leagues during 1959.