Today's Baseball Birthday.....Sparky Anderson

Today the Detroit Tigers take the field against the Atlanta Braves in the first game of spring training.

With the start of spring baseball games we say Happy Birthday to Hall of Fame skipper Sparky Anderson.

Sparky Anderson was born on February 22nd, 1934, in Bridgewater, South Dakota.

I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Anderson during a spring game around 1990 or 1991.

When I asked him were Cecil Fielder was, he said 

"...she don't play on Wednesday."

I will always treasure this baseball, signed by Sparky that spring day, Tigers vs. Reds in Plant City, Florida. 

Sparky led three different World Championship teams, the 1975-76 Big Red Machine and then in Motown with the 1984 Tigers.

Sparky played briefly in the big leagues for the 1959 Philadelphia Phillies.

Sparky hit .218, collecting 104 hits in his only big league season.

Happy Birthday Sparky!

Play Ball!!