LEAGUE OF THEMSELVES - SPARKY ANDERSON

 SPARKY ANDERSON

AS SEEN IN:

'WKRP In Cincinnatti'

"Sparky"

From Wikipedia:

George Lee "Sparky" Anderson (February 22, 1934 – November 4, 2010) was a Major League Baseball manager. He managed the National League's Cincinnati Reds to the 1975 and 1976championships, then added a third title in 1984 with the Detroit Tigers of the American League. He was the first manager to win the World Series in both leagues. His 2,194 career wins are the sixth most for a manager in Major League history. He was named American League Manager of the Year in 1984 and 1987. Anderson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2000.

Anderson was the first manager to win a World Series for both a National League and American League team. Either manager in the 1984 Series would have been the first to win in both leagues, since San Diego Padres (NL) manager Dick Williams had previously won the series with the Oakland Athletics (AL) in1972 and 1973. Williams' 1972 club had defeated Sparky Anderson's Reds club.

In 1979, Sparky guest-starred as himself on an episode of (appropriately enough) 'WKRP in Cincinnati'. The episode (titled "Sparky"), features Anderson as a talk-show host on the fictional station. Eventually Sparky is let go, which causes him to say, "I must be crazy. Every time I come to (Cincinnati) I get fired!"

SPARKY ANDERSON

(with Bailey Quarters)

Anderson appeared as himself in 'The White Shadow' season 3 episode "If Your Number's Up, Get it Down" in 1980. Falahey introduces him to Coolidge, but Coolidge replies with "Sorry you lost, but I voted for you." Coolidge mistakenly thought he was 1980 independent presidential candidate John Anderson.

Anderson appeared as himself in the 1983 Disney Channel movie "Tiger Town".

O'BSERVATION:

Because of his involvement in episodes from 'The White Shadow', 'Arli$$', and 'WKRP In Cincinnatti', Anderson was inducted into the TV Crossover Hall of Fame in November of 2010, soon after his death.

BCnU!