George Lee Anderson’s big league playing career lasted one season and yielded a .218 batting average in 152 games.

But Anderson’s second act in the majors – as a manager – ran for 26 seasons. And this time, the Hall of Fame came calling at the end of a run that produced three World Series titles and more than 2,000 victories.

“Sparky” had proven that he belonged.

“He was the man who put together some great teams,” said Hall of Famer Tony Pérez, who played first base on the Cincinnati Reds’ teams that Anderson managed in the 1970s. “He made us go.”