Dave Anderson’s career in baseball certainly extends beyond winning the World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1988, but what that ring signifies is a life in the nation’s pastime, and, being from a hometown with such a close relation to the game that means even more.
A native Louisvillian Anderson was a standout utility infielder at the University of Memphis. Be it at shortstop, third or second base Anderson seemed to have a predisposition towards the game of baseball. Of course, it was his natural talent in conjunction with his work ethic that led him to be drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round of the 1983 draft.
It was a Dodger team that found great success but couldn’t quite shake the stigma of the historical Brooklyn franchise which it was originally. Ironically, one of the team’s greatest Brooklyn stars, Pee Wee Reese was also a Derby City native but for Anderson he wasn’t there to deal with sports politics he was there to play baseball, regardless of the city he was in, and that’s just what he did.
With a .242 batting average Anderson offered the Dodgers a solid offensive and defensive player and his time with the team was typified by that world series victory against the Oakland A’s.
Seeing his contribution the San Francisco Giants succeeded in making a play for Anderson in the 1990-91 season, despite finding success in San Francisco as well Anderson felt himself drawn back to L.A. playing out his final season with the Dodgers in 1992.
A natural on-field leader, it only made sense that Anderson would then start looking toward baseball managing, and began coaching the single-A ball club, Jamestown Jammers in 1994.
Currently Anderson is back in the majors working as the third base coach for the Texas Rangers. Throughout his career though, Anderson has never lost sight of what the kid from Louisville was always about to put it simply baseball and everything that entails.
Image courtesy of the Texas Rangers
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