Anderson Resigns, but He’s Not Retiring

Sparky Anderson will always follow the Detroit Tigers. But he won’t manage them again.

Anderson, the winningest manager in Tigers’ history, resigned Monday after 17 years that included a World Series championship in 1984 and the AL East title in 1987.

Anderson, his eyes welling, made the announcement at a news conference packed with media, coaches, players and friends. He would like to manage another club, but only a contender.

“I think it would be good to go inside with a W,” said Anderson, whose Tigers compiled a 60-84 record this year. “We were having one [win] maybe every three weeks. I was forgetting how to shake hands.”

His resignation had been expected, but with Anderson it wasn’t certain until he officially announced it.

“To be around me, you have to be a little bit cuckoo,” Anderson said. “One day it’s written in concrete, the next day it’s written in sand. I always felt if I didn’t change my mind every 24 hours, people would find me boring.”

Tiger President John McHale called Anderson “one of a handful of the greatest managers in baseball history.”

“He came, he gave and he never stole,” McHale said. “He leaves today as he came: his own man. Cherish him, remember him. We will not see his like again.”

Anderson, 61, will wait at least 30 days to look at his options for the future. He hopes to manage again next year, but if he’s not working by spring training, he’ll stay in retirement.

“Anybody who thinks they can just pick up the phone and go to work is crazy,” he said.

Anderson led the Cincinnati Reds into the World Series four times, winning in 1975 and 1976, before coming to Detroit.

He is the only manager to lead two franchises in career victories.

Anderson’s overall major league record of 2,194-1,834 makes him the third-winningest manager in the history of the game, behind only Connie Mack and John McGraw.