Sparky Anderson in hospice care

[Faygo Kid]

Source: Detroit Free Press

Sparky Anderson, the all-time leader among Tigers managers in victories, visibility and inimitable quotations, has been placed in hospice care, according to a statement released today from his family.

Anderson is 76.

The family said Anderson was suffering from complications resulting from dementia and he was at his home in Thousand Oaks, Calif. “It’s the type of ailment that takes a toll over time,” said family spokesperson Dan Ewald, who was in California with Anderson about three weeks ago.

The statement also said: The Anderson family — wife, Carol; sons Lee and Albert; and daughter Shirley Englebrecht – “wishes to express
appreciation to all friends and fans for the support and kindness they have shown throughout Sparky’s career and retirement.” . . .

Read more: http://www.freep.com/article/20101103/SPORTS02/101103019/

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I know, it's just a sports figure here on DU, but it's a pretty significant one.

Thanks for everything, Sparky.

[Barack_America]

1. Oh man, first Ernie, now Sparky.

May his final days be peaceful and his passing without the least bit of suffering.

:cry:

[Botany]

2. Damn this one hurts .... Sparky was the man

In 1978 George Steinbrenner sent the new Cincinnati Red's exec. (Dick Wagner ??) a thank you card
for firing Sparky after he won 90 + games and came in second to a really good Dodgers team that won > 100
games.

When I was a child and in my teens I was a Pirates fan but I still remember going to see the Reds v Dodgers
and the Reds v Pirates @ that awful River Front ball park ..... I think I must have seen @ least 6 or more
hall of fame players and some really great ball ..... damn this one hurts, Sparky was the man.

[Purveyor]

3. I'm not surprised by this. I saw him on a TV interview a couple of months back

and he didn't look well at all and I was shocked.

Godspeed Sparky, godspeed.

[joeybee12]

4. That's too bad...here's good thoughts and vibes to him and his family...

:grouphug:

[DimplesinMI]

We in DETROIT Love You Sparky!

This is sad to hear.....:cry:

[DimplesinMI]

5. We in DETROIT Love You Sparky!

This is sad to hear.....:cry:

[rubberducky]

6. A truelly good man! Too bad more people could not leave a legacy like Sparky.

This man is a treasure. What a wonderfully good heart he has. How cruel for demencia to strike such a wonderful man.

[Crowman1979]

7. First the lousy election, now this?

What a sad week! Reminds me all the times I spent as a kid watching the Tigers win. I was lucky to see his last season at Tiger Stadium back in 1994. ;(

[Aristus]

8. Manager of The Big Red Machine.

What a team those Reds were.


He will be missed...

[exboyfil]

10. Grew up a Reds fan in the

1970s in Southern California. It was glory when Joe Morgan got the winning hit against Boston, and the sweep of the Yankess was icing on the cake.

I got the catcher's glove and pretended I was Johnny Bench. As a hometown team I always followed the Angels, but the Reds were my team.

I remember listening the Reds games on radio as a I threw a golfball against a brick wall and fielded it. Wonderful times.

I did not appreciatel managers much as a kids, but Sparky's success with the Reds and Tigers speaks for itself.

Wishing his family and the Reds' family the best. The Reds should never have fired him. They also should never have traded Tony Perez.

[zonkers]

12. What a team. Grew up with them too.

[MidwestTransplant]

9. Hard to believe he is only 76. He looked near 76 when he stopped managing the Tigers.

Tigers 84' Bless You Boys

[Cal Carpenter]

17. My thoughts exactly.

I woulda guessed he was 90 by now, heh. I was at that final game in 84. Obstructed view, of course, I miss that old stadium. Goddamn, I've never seen anything like that party since.

[YankeeLeft7x]

11. Get Well - All The Best

From a devoted Yankee Fan!

Sparky, Get Well Soon.

[AsahinaKimi]

13. Pretty Amazing couch

[regnaD kciN]

14. Frightening that someone can have dementia as young as 76...

[Faygo Kid]

15. I thought about that, too.

I'm less than two decades from there.

It goes fast.

[sarcasmo]

16. Kick to the Top for George Anderson.

[Faygo Kid]

18. Thanks. I agree. Class act.

A nice man, and I don't know or care about his politics.

[sarcasmo]

19. Signed an autograph for me when I was a kid. The days when you could mail them a letter with a

Sase and they would send you back an autograph. Still have the autograph to his day, one class act is right.

[On the Road]

20. I Was a Young Fan of the Big Red Machine

and went more than one game at the old Crosley Field.

Sparky was a good coach. And it was uncanny -- he always looked 30 years older than his chronological age.

[Psephos]

21. A great man and a great manager. n/t