Sparky gets first Tiger Win
June 17, 1979 – At Tiger Stadium, An unusual game-ending appeal play Sunday gave Sparky Anderson his first victory as manager of the Detroit Tigers.
Willie Davis was called out at second on a successful appeal when he left the base too soon ending the ninth inning and giving the Tigers an 8-4 victory over the California Angels that was Anderson’s first win in four games as Detroit’s manager California had runners on first and second with one Out in the top of the American League ninth inning when Don Baylor smashed a fly ball to the fence in left center Centerfielder Ron LeFlore positioned himself against the fence leaped and made a juggling catch for the second out of the inning Davis advanced to third on the play — and that’s what caused the fuss Did he or didn’t he leave too soon or fail to tag up? The umpire at first Terry Cooney said he did “I was on my way out of the dugout as soon as he was leaving (second base)” the sharp-eyed Anderson said jubilantly after the victory “I wanted to make sure he (Cooney) knew I knew the rules” The Detroit manager instructed winning relief pitcher Aurelio Lopez 1-1 to throw to second base and make an appeal as soon as time was back in Lopez did and Cooney delighted a crowd of 32744 with an exaggerated “out” sign Jason Thompson gave Detroit the lead when he looped a two-run single to trigger a four-run eighth inning that snapped a 4-4 tie
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