Cats to retire Sparky Anderson's Jersey June 17
Published on June 14, 2006 under American Association (AA)
Fort Worth Cats News Release
The Fort Worth Cats will retire Sparky Anderson's No. 1 Cats jersey during a pre-game ceremony before the Fort Worth-Pensacola game, Saturday, June 17 at LaGrave Field.
This marks the fourth jersey retired in the history of the Cats. Bobby Bragan's No. 10 jersey was the first to be retired in 2003. The team retired Duke Snider's No. 4 jersey in 2004 while Maury Wills' No. 6 jersey was retired last season.
Anderson played for the Cats in 1955, batting .266 in 148 games. The 21-year-old second baseman ended the year being named to the Texas League All-Star team.
Cats' broadcaster Bill Hightower gave George Anderson his nickname "Sparky" after Anderson had a heated argument with an umpire during a game in 1955 at LaGrave Field.
After spending six seasons in the Dodgers minor league system, his only major league season as a player was as the Philadelphia Phillies everyday second baseman in 1959, where he batted .218 in 152 games.
Anderson gained Hall of Fame status as a manager with the Cincinnati Reds and the Detroit Tigers. Sparky was the first manager to win a World Series in both leagues. He was also the first manager to have 100-win seasons with two different teams, and was named Manager of the Year twice in each league. Anderson won World Championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976. He was skipper of the Tigers in 1984 when Detroit won the World Series. In 2000, Anderson was elected to the Hall of Fame.
The 1955 Cats had five players on the roster that would go on to manage in the big leagues. Besides Anderson, Dick Williams, Maury Wills, Danny Ozark and Norm Sherry all spent time managing in the majors. Two other players off the '55 team, Joe Pignatano and Carroll Beringer, became major league coaches.
American Association Stories from June 14, 2006
- American Association recap - AA
- Canaries win over Explorers, 6-2 - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Talmadge Nunnari promoted to General Manager - Pensacola Pelicans
- Cats to retire Sparky Anderson's Jersey June 17 - Fort Worth Cats
- Two Canaries charity events next week - Sioux Falls Canaries
- Pelicans Hire New Pitching Coach - Pensacola Pelicans
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