sparky anderson

Ex Detroit Tigers and Cincinnati Reds coach Sparky Anderson is currently in hospice care after receiving complications from dementia. He is said to be at the Thousand Oaks, California home and Sparky's family said they are thankful to all of the manager's friends and fans who have shown kindness to the manager throughout his managing career and retirement.

The 76-year-old Anderson was inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame in 2000, culminating a major league career that included one nondescript season as a player and an historic run as a manager. He won 2,194 games as a manager, the third-highest total in major league history trailing Connie Mack and John McGraw. Anderson was the first manager to win World Series titles in both leagues and the only manager to lead two franchises in career wins. He led Cincinnati's Big Red Machine to World Series wins in 1975-76. He won four National League pennants in Cincinnati from 1970-78, then was fired after consecutive second-place finishes.

Sparky Anderson was clearly a legend and it is a shame to see him having such hardships in the twilight of his life but at least he has plenty of great memories and fans earned through his glittering career.