| | TAMPA, Fla. -- Sparky Anderson probably made at least a
million decisions while he was a major league manager, and on
Tuesday he announced what might have been his toughest call yet.
"The Hall of Fame rules say you can wear only one hat," he
said, "and I will wear a Cincinnati Reds hat."
|  | | Sparky Anderson is the only manager to have the most career wins for two franchises. |
The Veterans Committee put Anderson in the enviable position of
picking a cap for his plaque, easily electing the popular
Cincinnati and Detroit manager. It also selected Negro Leagues
outfielder Turkey Stearnes and 19th century infielder Bid McPhee.
But Ted Williams, Stan Musial and the rest of the 14-member
panel had a lot more trouble deciding which former big leaguer to
elect -- be it Bill Mazeroski, Gil Hodges, Dom DiMaggio, Mel Harder
or Tony Oliva.
So for the first time since 1993, it did not choose anyone in
that category.
"We hoped someone would be there, we really did," first-time
member Hank Aaron said. "It just got too hard. Maybe next year."
Afterward, the chewed-up pens and half-eaten cake in the meeting
room told the story. Despite five hours of discussion and two tough
ballots, it was a shutout -- it took 11 votes for election, and
Mazeroski just missed with 10.
"It built my hopes up, but not to the point where this is a big
letdown," said Mazeroski, working as an spring training instructor
for the Pirates in Bradenton, about an hour south of Tampa.
"There was a lot of push in Pittsburgh and by the Pirates, and
I appreciate all that. It just didn't happen," he said.
Anderson, who turned 66 last week, was elected in his first of
eligibility. Third on baseball's career win list, he is the only
manager to win World Series titles in both leagues.
"I never wore a World Series ring, but I will wear this one
every day until I die," he said from his home in Thousand Oaks,
Calif. "That, to me, is how much difference there is between the
World Series and Hall of Fame."
Anderson guided Cincinnati from 1970-78 and the Tigers from
1979-95. He picked his hat as a way of thanking former Reds general
manager Bob Howsam.
"He hired a 35-year-old nobody knew and he had the courage and
fortitude to do that," Anderson said. "Had he not done that, I
doubt very much in all honesty that I would have managed in the
major leagues. And I owe that to him."
Anderson will become the 16th manager inducted into the shrine
at Cooperstown, N.Y., on July 23. He has been to the upstate New
York village, but has never set foot inside the Hall.
"I didn't ever want to go into the most precious place in the
world unless I belonged there," he said.
He will be joined by his former Big Red Machine first baseman,
Tony Perez, and Boston catcher Carlton Fisk, both elected in
January by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Longtime
Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman also will be inducted.
"It will be a tremendous thrill," Anderson said.
Anderson was 863-586 with the Reds and led them to Series titles
in 1975-76. He was 1,331-1,248 with the Tigers and guided them to
the 1984 championship.
Anderson, who made two other Series appearances, is the only
manager to lead two teams in career wins. He victory total ranks
him behind just Connie Mack (3,731) and John McGraw (2,784).
McPhee spent his entire career in Cincinnati, batting .271 from
1882-1899. A second baseman, he resisted wearing a glove until late
in his career.
Stearnes hit .359 over 18 seasons in the Negro Leagues. He began
his career with the Detroit Stars in 1923 and led or shared the
league lead in home runs six times.
The panel, down to 14 because of Buck O'Neil's illness, could
not decide on a former major leaguer.
Mazeroski was a seven-time All-Star and won eight Gold Gloves,
becoming one of the best fielding second baseman ever. He also hit
one of the dramatic home runs in history, a bottom-of-the-ninth
shot that lifted the Pirates over the Yankees in Game 7 of the 1960
World Series.
Ted Williams, an influential voice in the meeting room, pushed
for Harder, 223-186 for the Cleveland Indians.
Hodges was backed by an intense letter-writing campaign from
fans nationwide. The late Brooklyn first baseman hit 370 home runs
and also managed the 1969 Miracle Mets to the World Series title.
"It was very disappointing we didn't pick one," panel member
Yogi Berra said. "That's what we come here once a year to do. But
we didn't do it."
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AUDIO/VIDEO
 Sparky Anderson explains his philosophy on managing.
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