Sparky Anderson Needs Surgery
Sparky Anderson, the former Detroit and Cincinnati manager, will undergo heart bypass surgery in California.
Tests conducted at Henry Ford Hospital on Tuesday revealed that Anderson has coronary artery blockage, the hospital said in a news release.
Anderson, 65, became ill before a celebrity golf tournament and was hospitalized Tuesday for testing. Anderson, his wife Carol and his doctors decided Wednesday on the elective treatment, the statement said.
Anderson lives in Thousand Oaks, Calif., but was visiting Michigan to play in a golf tournament put on by Bo Schembechler, a former Michigan football coach and Tigers president.
Anderson will be transferred to a hospital in the Los Angeles area in the next several days to undergo the surgery. The hospital said he prefers to be close to his three children and 14 grandchildren during the surgery and subsequent recovery.
Anderson managed the Cincinnati Reds from 1970-78, winning the World Series in 1975-76 with the team known as the "Big Red Machine." He then managed the Detroit Tigers for 17 years, resigning after the 1995 season with a team-record 1,331 victories and a World Series title in 1984.
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