He was also one of those that seemed eternally old, yet full of energy and vigor. He was THE baseball manager of my childhood, a monumental figure I revered and awed, and no one else save Ernie Harwell and Chuck Daly held such a memorable place in my formative years. 76 is far too young for him to have been taken from us.
RIP Sparky.
Unfortunately this once again is a reminder that the baseball snobs refuse to bestow any credit whatsoever on those '84 Tigers. It is criminal - CRIMINAL - to refuse Hall of Fame entry to the best pitcher of his era (Jack Morris), the arguably best shortstop of his era (Alan Trammell) who would only be topped by Cal Ripken Junior, and the arguably best second baseman of his era (Lou Whitaker) who would only be topped by Ryne Sandberg. It's not like these are campaigns for Chet Lemon or something. These are players who were the best or second-best at their position when they played. And to continually deny them their rightful place in the Hall of Fame is a slap in their faces, is a slap to the face of the Tigers franchise, and is a slap to the face of the city of Detroit.
Michigan against the SEC: 20-5-1 (7-3 in bowl games)
Originally posted by BoromirMarkHe was also one of those that seemed eternally old, yet full of energy and vigor. He was THE baseball manager of my childhood, a monumental figure I revered and awed, and no one else save Ernie Harwell and Chuck Daly held such a memorable place in my formative years. 76 is far too young for him to have been taken from us.
Originally posted by BoromirMarkHe was also one of those that seemed eternally old, yet full of energy and vigor. He was THE baseball manager of my childhood, a monumental figure I revered and awed, and no one else save Ernie Harwell and Chuck Daly held such a memorable place in my formative years. 76 is far too young for him to have been taken from us.
RIP Sparky.
What he said.
Sparky looked 76 his whole life, but he looked like what I always pictured a baseball manager should look like growing up. He had the look of someone who could be managing in 1910 or 2010. If you asked me to name things about the Tigers off the top of my head I'm sure it would go Sparky, Old Tiger Stadium, and then the orange lined hats which I always loved.
I'm sure Sparky has already rounded up some kind of team in a midwestern cornfield by now.
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