Tigers to retire Sparky Anderson's number

[madinmaryland]

DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers will retire Sparky Anderson's No. 11 this year, one of several gestures the team is planning to honor the late manager.

The Tigers also will wear a commemorative patch to honor the Hall of Fame manager who led them to the World Series title in 1984, and raise a flag with his name on it at their home opener.

"When you think of great managers and people in the game that really epitomize what it is to be a baseball manager ... you think of Sparky Anderson," general manager Dave Dombrowski said Saturday.

Anderson, who also won the World Series twice as Cincinnati's manager, died Nov. 4. Dombrowski expressed regret that Anderson passed away before his number was retired.

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/22/AR2011012202250.html