My most vivid memory of Sparky Anderson comes from my trip to Detroit Michigan to visit my grandparents when I was 11 or 12 years old. My grandpa knew that I would be excited to go see the Tigers play in what is coined now as “The Old Tiger Stadium” We had great seats about 15 rows deep on the first base line and I can remember my grandpa pointing out all the players and yelling out to them by name while they were taking infield…

“Let’s go Lou, let’s go Alan…turn two now” Of course he told me all about the Bird, Mark Fidrych…but I distinctly remember him pointing out the manager, Sparky Anderson, saying he was called Sparky because he was a firey guy who would “kick your ass” if you didn’t play hard, and that he was going to have the Tigers in the World Series soon.

I remember this because my grandpa told me he would send Sparky to Seattle to kick my ass if I didn’t play hard in little league.