They called him Sparky

[jj]

am sad to see manager Anderson pass on

was home team manager, the 1st pro game (Toronto Maple Leafs) i was ever at

will not forget his character, big smile, expressive crows feet...heart

http://www.charlierose.com/view/interview/4658

[charlene]

http://www.fan590.com/media.jsp?content=20101104_141511_9184

[charlene]

Sparky's Canuck connection and beginnings as a manager..and end..lol

1956-played with Montreal Royals of the International League
1960 - joined The Toronto Maple Leafs of the International League, where owner Jack Kent Cooke eventually spotted his leadership qualities.
1964- his first job as manager was with The Leafs. overly aggressive in his strategy and argued every close call with the umpires, showing a short fuse that soon got him fired.

hmm... I guess as a kid going to see The Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team in the early 60's I must have seen Sparky as manager...

[charlene]

Sparky in his Toronto Maple Leafs baseball uni.

[jj]

hey, great finds, char...found some Casey-ish/Yogi-ish quotes:


• "People who live in the past generally are afraid to compete in the present," he once said. "I've got my faults, but living in the past is not one of them. There's no future in it."

• "I've changed my mind about [the designated hitter] -- instead of being bad, it stinks."

• "If I hear Bowie Kuhn say just once more he's doing something for the betterment of baseball, I'm going to throw up."

• "A baseball manager is a necessary evil."

• "I don't want to embarrass any other catcher by comparing him to Johnny Bench."

• "It's a terrible thing to have to tell your fans, who have waited like Detroit's have, that their team won't win it this year. But it's better than lying to them."

• "Problem with [John] Wockenfuss getting on base is that it takes three doubles to score him."

• "Players have two things to do. Play and keep their mouths shut."

• "I don't know why the players make such a big fuss about sitting in the first-class section of the plane. Does that mean they'll get there faster?"

• "The great thing about baseball is when you're done, you'll only tell your grandchildren the good things. If they ask me about 1989, I'll tell them I had amnesia."

• "Me carrying a briefcase is like a hotdog wearing earrings."

• "I can't believe they pay us to play baseball -- something we did for free as kids."

[jj]

http://www.clickondetroit.com/sports/28366294/detail.html

I agree....



but it was real nice to see THE number plainly displayed on THE wall yesterday with some legendary others (see pic) when the Jays were visiting... that's doing it right, even if a wee bit belated

at Rogers Centre they just have (baby blue?) pennants hanging to honour persons...yuck

[ryan4horne]

Sparky was the first manager to win the world series in the American and national league. He was elected to the baseball hall of fame in 2000 after winning 2,194 games.:clap:
He was the real legend.....!