Sparky Anderson: Sporting World Braces To Lose Another Historic Figure

Sports superheroes seem to be invincible with their athletic or coaching accomplishments.

Unfortunately, they are vulnerable to ailments and death as we all are.

Today, Hall of Fame manager Sparky Anderson was admitted to hospice care due to "complications from dementia."

Anderson, 75, managed the Cincinnati Reds "Big Red Machine" and the 1984 Detroit Tigers to three World Series championships and five league pennants. He is also the sixth all-time winningest manager in MLB history with 2,194 victories in a 26-year career. 

Here are some other sporting figures who have passed on this year.

Andy Irons

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HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA - JULY 24: Andy Irons (Hawaii) gets ready for Heat 4 of the Men's Round of 24 during the 2009 Hurley U.S. Open of Surfing on July 24, 2009 in Huntington Beach, California. (Photo by Victor Decolongon/Getty Images)

One of the world's top professional surfers, Irons died Tuesday. The reason for his death is unknown, but reports point to him fighting a viral disease called dengue fever.

Irons, 32, learned surfing off the shores of Kauai, Hawaii, and eventually led a career of  three world championships, three Quiksilver Pro France titles, and two Rip Curl Pro Search titles.

The governor of Hawaii declared Feb. 13th as "Andy Irons Day" due to Irons' surfing accomplishments.

His name is in the Surfing Walk of Fame in Huntington Beach, Calif.

George Blanda

Pro Football Hall of Famer George Blanda, 83, passed away on Sept. 27.

Blanda had a  26-year career, playing for four different teams in both the AFL and NFL. He was an AFL All-Star and AFL champion multiple times.

Blanda's football career originated in college, playing for legendary University of Kentucky coach Paul "Bear" Bryant.

During his collegiate and professional careers, Blanda played both place kicker and quarterback, and also played linebacker.  In his second season with the Houston Oilers, he led the AFL with 36 touchdown passes and 3,330 passing yards. The touchdown record would stand until Dan Marion broke it in 1984.

He also scored at least one point in all those seasons. He is tied with four others for most touchdowns in a game, with seven.

George Steinbrenner

George Steinbrenner, 80, died July 13 after revitalizing the New York Yankees and changing baseball management forever.

He is one of the most famous, and winningest owners in Major League Baseball history, buying Yankees in 1972. At the time, the Yankees were owned by CBS, who was running the team into the ground. 

 Steinbrenner purchased the Yankees for $8.8 million with a few investors.

Steinbrenner had a famous "do anything to win" attitude by signing high-priced free agents, and   frequently hiring and firing managers.

He fought with managers, players and using the media in press conferences to publicize the in-house discords. 

Through his tenure, Steinbrenner won 11 pennants and seven World Series titles, including the Yankees winning four titles in five years from 1996-2000.

John Wooden

John Wooden, 99, died of  natural causes June 4.

Wooden coached the dominant UCLA basketball teams from 1963-1975, winning an impressive 10 titles.

The next closest men's coaches are Adolph Rupp and Mike Krzyzewski who have both won four.

Besides coaching, Wooden played for Purdue University and won the 1932 national championship. He was named All-Big Ten and All-Midwestern from 1930-32 and was the first player to be a three-time All American.

In 27 seasons, Wooden accrued 620 wins. Four perfect seasons and winning 38 straight games in the NCAA tournament are other accomplishments.

In 2003, Wooden received the highest civilian honor possible, the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Erica Blasberg

LPGA golfer Erica Blasberg's body was found by Police in her Henderson, Nevada home after they received a 911 call May 9.  Blasberg, 25, played on played on the boys' golf team during high school. 

She became the country's No. 1 ranked college golfer as a freshman at the University of Arizona. 

After six collegiate victories and being selected as an All-America golfer in  2003 and 2004, Blasberg turned pro.

She was victorious in the Laconia Savings Bank Golf Classic in 2004, her lone professional win.

Keli McGregor

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DENVER - OCTOBER 15: Team President of the Colorado Rockies, Keli McGregor celebrates in the locker room after the Rockies 6-4 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks during Game Four of the National League Championship Series at Coors Field on October 15,

Keli McGregor was found deceased in his hotel room April 20.

McGregor, 48, was the President of the Colorado Rockies. He was promoted through the ranks from Senior Director of Operations (1993), Senior Vice President (1996), Executive Vice President (1998) and then finally President since 2001 to his passing.

As an athlete, he was an All-American tight end for Colorado State and  drafted by the Broncos in the fourth round. His NFL career was with the Denver Broncos, Indianapolis Colts and Seattle Seahawks.

Merlin Olsen

Merlin Olsen, 69, died March 11 after a long battle with Mesothelioma.

He was a football player, actor, broadcaster, and humanitarian. He had a legendary career with the Los Angeles Rams.

After graduating college, the Rams chose Olsen in the first round. He had a 15-year career with the team. He won Rookie of the Year in 1962, made first All-Pro in1964, and was a 14-time Pro Bowler.

He was a member of "The Fearsome Foursome", who many consider the best defensive line in NFL history.

Olsen has been inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, College Football Hall of Fame, and Academic All-American Hall of Fame.

After his NFL career, Olsen provided color commentary both pro and college football games for more than a decade.

Gaines Adams

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ORCHARD PARK, NY - SEPTEMBER 20: Defensive end Gaines Adams #90 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers takes a break from the action during the game against the Buffalo Bills at Ralph Wilson Stadium on September 20, 2009 in Orchard Park, New York. The Bills won 33

Gaines Adams, 26, passed away Jan. 18 from an enlarged heart, which led to cardiac arrest at his family's home.

Adams was an NFL defensive end after a successful Clemson career.He was the fourth pick the 2007 NFL Draft, when he was selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In his rookie season, he led defensive rookies with six sacks.

Only just beginning to make his professional mark, Adams played 47 games over three seasons, recording 67 tackles, including 13.5 sacks. He played for for tow years for the Buccaneers before being traded to the Chicago Bears.