The Detroit Tigers have had their share of noteworthy skippers — we can only imagine what it was like having known-asshole Ty Cobb operating as player-manager — but in recent years, a certain pair stick out: Sparky Anderson, who oversaw the team's 1984 World Series win, and Jim Leyland, who helmed the Tigers' ascent to becoming championship contenders following its glorious entry in the footnotes of suck (119 losses in the 2003 season).
They also spewed some classic one-liners. Given that it's Opening Day — and current manager Brad Ausmus made headlines last year for his mouth after delivering a seriously bad joke — this should be a lighthearted game to play. Who said this? Leyland or Anderson. If you get every line right, you ... uh, know your team managers well? We don't know. Enjoy.
1. "I don't know why the players make such a big fuss about sitting in the first-class section of the plane. Does that mean they'll get there faster?"
Leyland or Anderson
2. "The great thing about baseball is when you're done, you'll only tell your grandchildren the good things. If they ask me about 1989, I'll tell them I had amnesia."
Leyland or Anderson
3. "Don't fuck with me."
Leyland or Anderson
4. "Me carrying a briefcase is like a hot dog wearing earrings."
Leyland or Anderson
5. "Machado leads the league in doubles. I'm second in doubles — double vodkas, double scotches ..."
Leyland or Anderson
6. "I met five presidents. I had dinner with a president of the United States in the White House. I played golf with a president of the United States. I made money. I mean, when I look at it, I had a unbelievably fabulous career. And I'm extremely grateful."
Leyland or Anderson
7. "There isn't a college in the world that would have me and yet in this business you can walk into a room with millionaires, doctors, professional people and get more attention than they get. I don't know any other business where you can do that."
Leyland or Anderson
8. "If somebody put a gun to my head and said, 'Give me your 25 players,' I could do it."
Leyland Anderson
9. "You give us the pitching some of these clubs have and no one could touch us, but God has a way of not arranging that, because it's not as much fun."
Leyland or Anderson
10. "Still. Smokers out there, you know what I'm talking about. That moment, after you've had a huge meal, say at Thanksgiving, when you step outside in the cold, light up a cigarette and take a deep inhale ... that's about the best moment in the world, you know? All the smokers out there, you know that feeling. Sometimes, smoking is fantastic."
Leyland or Anderson
