Comments on: Do right by Sparky

By: Ghost of Tigers past

Ghost of Tigers past — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 14:13:04 +0000

My wife & I met Sparky at a booking signing a few years ago.Nice man,and he will talk.I wish I had the chance to talk more with him.An excellent read is Joe Posnanski’s”The Machine”.It’s about the 1975 Cincinnati Reds race to win it all.It describes how Sparky ran the team.About Rose,Morgan,Bench & Perez.

By: Coleman

Coleman — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:08:43 +0000

And if the Reds hadn’t, the Tigers would have likely never hired him..

By: billfer

billfer — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 03:01:04 +0000

Tram is a separate issue. I agree he should have a statue as well.

By: billfer

billfer — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:59:38 +0000

Nope. Inductees got to choose back then. It was later that the decision was taken out of their hands. Sparky chose the Reds because they gave him his break.

By: Detroit Expat

Detroit Expat — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 02:50:32 +0000

Sparky didn’t choose the Reds the Baseball Hall of Fame picked the cap on the plaque. In fact Sparky said he couldn’t choose and and was fine going in as a Red since they gave him his first break. Both Sparky and Tram should be on the wall.

By: michblk

michblk — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 18:16:47 +0000

Horton doesn’t have a HOF Plaque. Put Sparky on the wall.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:58:40 +0000

Nevermind. I found the answer. It is being televised.

By: Kathy

Kathy — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:56:32 +0000

Got a question for you: is this game going to be broadcast on FSN? Anybody?

By: rings

rings — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:36:23 +0000

Its interesting that you mentioned Sheffield in your post, Bilfer, as he’s the only one to selfishly – and disgracefully, in my view – request and receive Trammell’s number, which should also be on the wall.
While I support the sentiments expressed here in honoring Anderson, at least Tram was a career-long Tiger, whereas Sparky made his “choice” between us and Cinci long ago when he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:09:59 +0000

Don’t it always seem to go
That you don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone

By: epheeZ

epheeZ — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:56:32 +0000

The ‘84 team lined the infield foul lines with their leader Sparky at home plate.These gaurians of the infield stood with joyful faces, for they knew what baseball can do for our resilient city. It has been written many times that our Tigers have carried the city during its toughest times, and yesterday was a testament to the players understanding of that.

Born in ‘82 I have only known the ‘84 team in retrospect, however, while at the game/ceremony last night it seemed that Sparky was more a Tiger than he ever was a Red. With his crooked finger pointed to the Old English on his cap Sparky beamed with the pride of a detroit auto worker.

Thanks to all the “blessed” ‘84 boys!

By: Andrew

Andrew — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 12:33:28 +0000

The Tigers need to let bygones be bygones and officially retire Sparky’s number and put his name up on the wall. Frankly, I’m glad he stood up against managing replacement players and applaud him for taking a stand that others might have wanted to, but were too worried about how it would affect them. Sparky stood up for the integrity of the game.