I’ve
never done a “missing” 1972 In-Action card for a manager before, but
what better guy to create one for than the Reds Sparky Anderson?
Take a look:
Anderson, who only played one season, albeit a full season, as a player
in the Major Leagues back in 1959 with the Philadelphia Phillies, began
what would end up being a Hall of Fame managerial career in 1970, taking
over the Cincinnati Reds at JUST the right time.
It would begin a run that would arguably make the Reds the team of the
1970’s, aka the “Big Red Machine” with guys like Johnny Bench, Pete
Rose, Joe Morgan and Tony Perez.
They’d take home four National League pennants and two World
Championships during the decade, with five first place finishes and
three second place finishes with Sparky at the helm between 1970 and
1978.
As if all that wasn’t enough already, Anderson would switch gears and
take charge of the Detroit Tigers in 1979, a position he would hold for
the next 17 years, brining home another championship in 1984 during
their magical season that saw them start the year at 35-5!
By the time he was done managing in the Majors, he put in 26 seasons,
all with the Reds and Tigers between 1970 and 1995, finishing with 2194
wins and a .545 winning percentage, topping 100 wins three times and
winning the aforementioned three championships and five pennants.