Sparky Anderson Long Time Detroit Tigers Manager Passes

To me Sparky Anderson is one of the greatest baseball mangers of all time. I have been a life long Detroit Tigers fan. When I was 18 in 1968 the Tigers won the World Series what a great time we had as the city of Detroit celebrated. But the 1984 season where the Tigers got off to one of the greatest starts in baseball history and lead wire to wire and then won the World Series is one that really sticks in my mind. Some of my favorite players came from that team. following are some quotes by Kirk Gibson remembering Sparky:
Gibson, now the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks, described in a telephone interview Wednesday what a teacher Anderson has been for him. "Sparky taught us the scoreboard is like a painting," Gibson said. "When an artist is painting a picture, it changes every time his brush crosses the canvas.
"The scoreboard is like a painting. It's always changing. It tells you what to do.
"Sparky taught us how to play the game, how to respect the game and how to treat people. When I first came up, trust me, I needed a lot of lessons."
Alan Trammell was Gibson's teammate throughout Gibson's dozen Detroit seasons. The two became close friends. Shortly after this season ended, Trammell joined the Diamondbacks as Gibson's bench coach.
"Tram and I will be together," Gibson said. "Sparky couldn't have two better of his pupils to continue his legacy in the game."
Informed of that comment by Gibson, Trammell said: "I agree 100%, exactly. Some people who don't know Gibby and me will talk about how our personalities are different. But one thing we have in common, and the main thing we have, is that we were taught by the same man, our mentor, Sparky. We're on the same page with what he's taught us.
"Sparky became a second father to myself and others. I'm proud to say he taught us the right way. As Gibby said, we'll continue that legacy."
 Sparky you will be missed, you often said you believed in the big guy upstairs, I hope you did.