Anderson, who was about to go on to an incredible 26 run as a Hall of Fame manager with the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers, first lent his skills as a coach with the new San Diego franchise in 1969 after some years as a Minor League manager throughout the 1960’s.
But after the Reds offered him the job to replace former manager Dave Bristol to head the upstart Cincinnati team, he jumped at the chance, and began what was to be an incredible run through the 1970’s that saw him appear in four World Series, winning two in a row in 1975/1976, with the team gaining the nickname “Big Red Machine”, loaded with all-stars like Johnny Bench, Pete Rose and Tony Perez.
After nine years with Cincy, he then moved over to guide the Detroit Tigers, where he’d be over the next 17 years, bringing home a championship in 1984 while winning 1331 games in the Motor City.
All told, the man would post 2194 Major League wins as a manager in 26 years, with five pennants, three championships and seven first-place finishes.
Great baseball lifer and story-teller. Miss him.