SCOUTING YESTERDAY | Sparky Anderson became first South Dakotan in baseball HOF

This week in South Dakota history: Feb. 28 - Mar. 6

The selection of Major League Baseball player, coach and manager George Lee “Sparky” Anderson to the Baseball Hall of Fame a quarter century ago made him the first South Dakotan ever enshrined in Cooperstown, New York.

News that baseball writers had picked the Bridgewater native for the year’s class of Hall of Fame inductees reached South Dakota on March 1, 2000, when the Argus Leader reported Anderson would be inducted along with Carlton Fisk, Tony Pérez, Bid McPhee and Turkey Stearnes.

A legendary ball player and manager, Anderson’s playing career included stints with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Toronto Maple Leafs before taking over management of the Leafs in 1964, according to the Baseball Hall Of Fame. He went on to coach third base for the San Diego Padres in 1969 and later that year was named manager of the Cincinnati Reds.