Sparky Anderson Led Both The Detroit Tigers And Cincinnati Reds As They Compete

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The Sparky Anderson classic continues between the Cincinnati Reds and the Detroit Tigers.

Anderson managed both teams.

George Sparky Anderson was 36 years old when Reds' general manager  Bob Howsam hired him to manage the Reds at age 36.  Anderson managed the Ashville Tourists in 1968 in the Reds' system.

Howsam's pick started his career in spectacular fashion.  A team that was on the cusp of being special with Pete Rose, Johnny Bench and Tony Perez, won 102 games that season but fell to the Baltimore Orioles in five games during the World Series.

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That disappointment  didn't last long.  After a sub .500 year in 1971, the Reds retooled, adding future Hall of Fame second baseman, Joe Morgan and became the best team in baseball during the 70's.  They won fewer than 90 games once in the next seven seasons, winning pennants in 1972, 1975 and 1976.  The back-to-back World Series in 1975 and 1976.  Anderson's teams won a Western Division title in 1973.  They won 98 games and finished second in 1974.   The Reds won 108 games in 1975, 102 in 1976 and 92 with a second place finish in 1978.

Dick Wagner fired Anderson after the 1978 season.  Anderson went on to Detroit where he managed the Tigers for the next 17 seasons.  His Tigers won the World Series over the San Diego Padres in 1984 after a 104-win season. The Tigers made the playoff with 98 wins in 1987.

Anderson finished with the most wins of any Detroit manager, 1,331.

In 26 years, Anderson had a record of 2,194 - 1,834 for a winning percentage of .545.  He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2000.