Cincinnati Reds Manager Sparky Anderson Wins First Game
By David Hill
Sparky Anderson is one of the greatest managers in the history of baseball. On this day in 1970, Anderson won his first game in his managerial career, a 5-1 victory for the Cincinnati Reds.
Sparky Anderson had an excellent career as the manager of the Cincinnati Reds and the Detroit Tigers. He helmed the Big Red Machine to four World Series appearances and two victories, and became the first manager in history to win a World Series in both leagues when the Tigers won in 1984. Known as Captain Hook for his tendency to take pitchers out quickly if they struggled, Anderson currently ranks sixth with 2,194 victories as a manager.
But each manager needs to get their first win somewhere. For Anderson, that first victory came on this day in 1970, when the Cincinnati Reds and Jim Merritt defeated Joe Sparma and the Montreal Expos 5-1 at Crosley Field in Cincinnati.
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Scoreless through three and a half innings, the Reds exploded in the bottom of the fourth. After Johnny Bench led off the inning with a double, Lee May launched a two run home run. Bernie Carbo followed with his first career hit, as he followed May with a home run of his own. After two outs, Bobby Tolan hit the Reds third home run of the inning to give the Reds a 4-0 lead. A sacrifice fly in the fifth gave the Reds their final run, as the Reds took the victory on Opening Day.
Merritt, who wound up winning twenty games that year, pitched a complete game, allowing only one run on three hits and two walks, striking out eight. Pete Rose was 2-2 with a double and a triple, scoring a run. May drove in three runs in Anderson’s first victory.
Next: Rockies and Marlins first game revisited
With every all time great, they have their first hit or victory at some point. For Sparky Anderson, that first victory came in his very first game at the helm of the Cincinnati Reds, setting the stage for one of the more storied career of any manager in the game.