Happy Birthday to Pete Rose, 'Charlie Hustle', born on this day in 1945.
He is the all-time hits leader with 4256 and most at bats with 3562. He played from 1963--1986, mostly with the Reds. Over his incredible career, he was a 17 time all-star (visions of Ray Fosse dancing in my head), won three World Series, An MVP, A World Series MVP, Two Gold Gloves, Rookie of the Year and about a hundred other honors.
For those readers to young to remember his career, there were few people who have had such an incredible impact in the history of the game. Hall of Fame and Gambling controversy aside, he is an all-time great who will be remembered in the baseball history books for as long as the game exists.
Though he is not in the Baseball Hall of Fame, he has the great honor of being the Birthday Baseball Quote of the Day for April 14th.
"Walk by a house that's being built, stop awhile and watch the bricklayers. Pretty soon, you'll be able to tell who is the best bricklayer by his drive, his determination. Pete Rose is the best bricklayer out there."
Willie Stargell
Over a hundred more Pete Rose quotes at www.baseballquotations.com
Hall of Fame Manager George 'Sparky' Anderson was born on February 22nd 1934. What a career and what a guy.
This is about the easiest baseball birthday quote of all-time. Free plug for my website, but we have over 130 quotes (many hilarious) from Sparky Anderson. Just go visit Sparky at www.baseballquotations.com and see the list of over 11,000 other quotes.
So Sparky was the manger of the Big Red Machine from 1970--1978. He won two World Series during his tenure with the Reds. Then with one of the stupidest moves in baseball history, the Reds fired him after the 1978 season.
All he did then was manage the Tigers from 1979--1995, winning the 1984 World Series and being voted Manager of the Year twice. His Number 10 was retied by the Reds. His Number 11 was retired by the Tigers and he was selected by the Veterans Committee for the Hall of Fame in 2000.
He was one of baseball's beloved figures---a great and witty manager who never took himself seriously, but treated his players with great respect. He is greatly missed.
In honor of his great managerial career, he is today's recipient of the Baseball Birthday Quote of the Day.
"The day I got a hit off Koufax was when he knew it was time to retire."
--Sparky Anderson, on his short major league career
"I only had a high school education and believe me, I had to cheat to get that."
"A baseball manager is a necessary evil"
