Sparky Anderson biography

Synopsis

Early Life

Athletic coach Sparky Anderson was born George Lee Anderson on February 22, 1934, in Bridgewater, South Dakota. Anderson and his four siblings struggled with poverty, living in a house without an indoor bathroom or enough heat. In the winter, to fight the cold, Anderson's father put cardboard over the windows. The family moved to Los Angeles in 1942 in order to find work.

However, Anderson's father, who played catcher on a semi-professional baseball team, took the time away from his busy job to share his interests with his son, including his love of baseball. He supported his son's interest in the sport, especially when Anderson landed a job as batboy for the University of Southern California baseball team.

Baseball quickly became Anderson's life; he even changed high schools because the one he originally attended didn't offer baseball. But while he had a passion for the game, he was recognized more for the positive attitude and energy he brought to the game than for his athletic ability. This quality eventually landed him the nickname "Sparky", which stuck with him for the rest of his life.

Pro Athlete

After graduation from high school in 1953, Anderson signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers as an amateur free agent. For the next six years Anderson worked his way up in the minor leagues, playing for everyone from the Santa Barbara Dodgers to the Montreal Royals. On April 10, 1959, the 25-year-old shortstop finally made it into the majors, signing as a second baseman with the Philadelphia Phillies. His career as a professional athlete was short-lived, however, lasting only one season. He returned to the minor leagues in 1960.

Major League Coach

While playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs the next year, the team's owner, Jack Kent Cooke, noted Anderson's leadership abilities. In 1964, he was offered the chance to manage the Leafs, which Anderson accepted. He bounced around the minor leagues, managing teams such as the Rock Hill Cardinals and the Modesto Reds, then made his way back to the majors in 1969 as a coach for the San Diego Padres.

In 1969, he was given the opportunity to replace Dave Bristol, the former manager of the Cincinnati Reds. Cincinnati fans were less than enthusiastic about the choice; the day Anderson was hired, the headline "Sparky Who?" was plastered in the city's local papers, with an accompanying article questioning the appointment of a relatively unknown minor league manager.

Yet Anderson surprised everyone in 1970, when he helped transform the Reds from a low-performing team into one of the most accomplished in the league. In his first year at the helm, Anderson led the Reds to 102 victories and a National League pennant win.