Sparky Anderson Dead: 10 Best Players Ever To Play for MLB Legend

Sparky Anderson Dead read the headlines this morning. The baseball world has lost one of it's most prized possessions. 

Sparky Anderson was the prototypical manager for me. He was a no nonsense, hard nosed, motivator that was beloved by fans and his players.

He started his managerial career in Cincinnati in 1970 and then moved onto become the Tigers skipper in 1979. While manager, he compiled over 2,000 wins and three world series titles. He will be missed for his love of the game and for the lives he has shaped. 

That latter is what I would like to concentrate on here. Anderson was manager of the Big Red machine of the 1970's and of the Tigers that won it all in 1984. Throughout his years he has touched the careers of many fantastic ball players. Here are the best. 

10. Lance Parrish

Johnny Bench largely outshines as the best catcher Anderson had in his career. But Anderson had a very capable backstop in Detroit as well. 

Lance Parrish could catch and hit as well as any in the game during his best Tigers years. In fact, when he was at his best, there was no catcher better at hitting in the league. He won the silver slugger award six times.  

9. Gary Nolan

The Big Red Machine was not all power and braun. They also boasted a formidable pitching rotation. Gary Nolan was at his best during the early seventies. From 1970 to 1976, Nolan's ERA never surpassed 3.46. In 1972, he posted a remarkable 1.99 ERA. 

In Nolan, the Reds had a perennial 15 game winner to anchor the staff. 

8. Jack Morris

When Sparky Anderson joined the Detroit Tigers in 1979, he had a young stud pitcher in Jack Morris. Morris would then blossom into one of the best in baseball during his stay in Detroit. 

His best year is the World Series season of 1984. Morris started the season on the right foot by throwing a no-hitter on April 7th. He would go on to win 19 games that year. 

7. Cecil Fielder

Cecil Fielder did not reach his potential until he left the major leagues. After a lackluster season with the Royals in 1988, he left to play in Japan. After a remarkable season for the Hanshin Tigers, the Detroit Tigers decided to take a chance on him. 

It was one of the best decisions in Tigers history. In 1990, Fielder had one of the best seasons by a hitter that Sparky Anderson ever managed. Fielder finished the season with 51 home runs and 132 RBI. Fielder would remain the Tigers slugger until he was traded to the Yankees in 1996. 

6. Kirk Gibson

Sparky Anderson had a special affinity for Kirk Gibson. He saw in Gibson a passion and love for the game that he too shared. He even glossed Gibson as the next Mickey Mantle signifying his combination of talent and heart. 

In Gibson, Anderson had a clutch player that combined speed and power. While a Tiger, he ranked in the top ten in home runs three times and in stolen bases four times. 

5. Alan Trammel

There are very few players that epitomize the Detroit Tigers more than Alan Trammell. The shortstop lead the Tigers on the field from 1977 until his retirement in 1996. 

Before there was Derek Jeter, there was Alan Trammell. Trammell was one of the first shortstops to combine a dedication to defense with the ability to make the other team hurt with his bat. He is the recipient of not only four gold glove awards but three silver slugger titles as well. 

4. Tony Perez

Tony Perez was the slugger in the lineup for Sparky Anderson's Cincinnati Reds. He was the go-to RBI machine. 

His legacy might be even better had he not played against the backdrop of Johnny Bench. While Perez cashed in 90 or more RBI's in every season with the Reds, Bench just seemed to out do him by an inch every time. The Hall of Fame Perez, is still considered to be one of the most prolific hitters in Reds history. 

3. Joe Morgan

Joe Morgan further solidified the Big Red Machine. He was part of a lopsided trade that sent him to the Reds in 1972. From that point, the Reds dominated the National League. 

Morgan is one of the best second baseman to every play. While with Cincinnati he ripped off five gold gloves and eight consecutive All-Star appearances. As a member of the Reds, his batting average never dropped below .288. He was a rarity at the time, combining speed, defense, and hitting at the second base position. 

2. Johnny Bench

Every manager needs a great catcher. He is the leader on the field, the general. Sparky Anderson could not ask for a better back stop than Johnny Bench. 

Bench is arguably the best to ever dawn the catcher's mask. He played for the Cincinnati Reds for 16 years. During that time he won world series titles twice in '75 and '76. Both seasons with Anderson at the helm. 

Bench was a rare combination of offense and defense. He won 10 gold glove awards while hitting 389 home runs during his career. 

1. Pete Rose

Simply one of the best to ever play the game. It seemed like Pete Rose willed himself to greatness. He was never caught slouching or not trying. In Rose, Anderson had a player that the entire roster could emulate. He loved the game and made sure to play it as hard as he could. 

Pete Rose still holds the record for most career hits at 4,256 and games played at 3,562. Without his issues with gambling and his subsequent lifetime ban, Rose would be in the discussion as one of the best to play baseball.