num_pages: 352
description: In the tradition of Tuesdays With Morrie Dan Ewald pens a memoir of his friendship with legendary Tigers manager Sparky Anderson the man who taught him not only the nuances of baseball but the importance of lifes unwritten rules.Few sports figures regardless of their position have generated as much good will as Sparky Anderson the legendary manager for the Cincinnati Reds and the Detroit Tigers. Sparky met author Dan Ewald in 1979 and thus was born a lifelong friendship not likely ever to be seen again in baseball. Along the way Dan never took for granted the front row seat he had to watch one of history's most memorable managers absolute mastery of baseball's nuances and intricacies.But the most important things Sparky taught Dan were the unwritten rules of life which he practiced meticulously. To Sparky a real professional was as great away from the diamond as he was on it. His goal was for his players to be the best husbands fathers and community leaders they could behe believed that was the mark of a winner not the box score. Sparky had a gift for taking something as inane as the infield fly rule and turning it into a lecture on how to lead a more meaningful life. In 2010 the old friends had planned a get-together before the end of the year. But Sparkys health was taking a turn for the worse so Dan arranged a three-day visit as quickly as he could. During their last days together the friends recalled the memories of a lifetime as each prepared silently for their final good-bye. When that weekend came to a close Dan had grown to appreciate Sparky more than he ever thought he could. In this heartfelt memoir Dan imparts to readers his best friends spirit through his unforgettable life lessons and stories only the two of them shared. Like a wizard Sparky Anderson was white-haired and wise and sitting with him was like visiting with an oracle. Dan Ewald who spent more time with Sparky than any of us beautifully captures the magic of Sparkys wit humor and humanity in these pages. All baseball fans should read it. -- Mitch Albom New York Times bestselling author of Tuesdays with Morrie and Have a Little Faith No one understood Sparky better than Dan Ewald. Managing people in a scope far broader than a pennant race is a rare quality and Sparky understood people their insecurities their motivations. This is a great read a great understanding of the humanity of playing baseball. Peter Gammons MLB NetworkFor decades it seemed like everyone in baseball knew Sparky Anderson and almost all of us considered him a friend. But few knew him as Dan Ewald did. Here Dan provides a unique look at an endearing man who led a significant life both in and out of the game. Bob Costas
language: English
title: Sparky and Me: My Friendship with Sparky Anderson and the Lessons He Shared About Baseball and Life
publisher: Thomas Dunne Books