In nine full big league seasons as a manager, Billy Southworth led his teams to four National League pennants and nine winning records.

Few managers won as consistently as Southworth, who spent 25 seasons as a player and/or manager in the major leagues.

The folksy, neighborly image we now have of the Brooklyn Dodgers was largely shaped by Wilbert Robinson, their manager from 1914-1931, during which time sportswriters began referring to the team as the “Robins” in his honor.

So lasting was the affectionate term that it evolved into the “flock” long after Uncle Robbie left the scene and the official nickname reverted to Dodgers. “Flock” was still regularly used in tabloid headlines until the team moved to Los Angeles following the 1957 season.

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.”