The Book, I Have the Book, and Sparky Lyle Signed It

On June 21, 2006, I went to Somerset Stadium in Bridgewater, New Jersey to catch the Somerset Patriots beat the Camden Riversharks by a score of 5 to 4. The highlight was that after the game I found Sparky Lyle, the Manager of the Somerset Patriots, and told him I had his book, the Bronx Zoo, and asked him to sign it, which he agreed. That made my week.

I bought the book in 1979, as a fanatic fan of the New York Yankees for many years and I was well aware of the Cy Young award winning pitching of Sparky Lyle. I felt that I knew all of the other members of the Yankees at the time including: Catfish Hunter, Graig Nettles, Roy White, Paul Blair, Reggie Jackson, The Gator Ron Guidry, Lou Pinella, Ed Figueroa, Dick Tidrow, Ken Clay, Jim Beattie, Mickie Rivers, Thurman Munson, Fran Healy, Willie Randolph, Billy Martin, Cliff Johnson, Yogi Berra, Chris Chambliss, Bucky Dent, and others. Through the 1970's and 1980's I followed the New Yankees on TV, radio, in person at the ballpark, and in the newspapers. It was as much fun to follow each game as it was to follow the gossip.

And Sparky Lyle played a major role in the success of the Yankees at the time.

In 2005, Lyle reached his 500th win as a manager for the Somerset Patriot franchise and is the winningest manager in Atlantic League History.

Under his guidance, the Somerset Patriots have won three League Championships, seven Half Championships, and six South Division Championships.

Now, I would like to see Sparky Lyle elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, write another book (he has written 2 books already), and continue to remain in professional baseball as long as he wants (they love him as Manager of the Somerset Patriots). Right now the ballpark is named Commerce Bank Ballpark, but they should rename it Sparky Lyle Ballpark, soon or at least a major section of it after him like the stadium.

I saw him twice this year so far and intend to continue to attend Somerset Patriot games. I will attend sooner, but am looking forward to July 2, when the Patriots play the Long Island Ducks and the have a promotion of $1.00 hot dogs and a Jimmy Buffett Tribute Day with live music before the game from 12:30 to 1:15. I m also a Jimmy Buffett fan.

I live in the middle of two league teams locations, the Newark Bears and the Somerset Patriots. I have been following both teams. I have been to both stadiums...especially when the Patriots play the Bears in Newark. The highest priced ticket is cheaper than going to the movies. I never paid for parking in Newark, but the Patriot parking is only $2.00. The games are always excellent and the parks have additional entertainment especially for the kids. Most games have special promotions. There are plenty of seats available each game day to walk up to the stadium and purchase them and walk in.

Below is a short biography of Sparky Lyle.

http://www.somersetpatriots.com/roster/coahces/index.html?player_id=5

Cy Young Award, 1977, Sparky Lyle

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/nyy/history/awards.jsp

New York Yankee All-Star Sparky Lyle 1977, 1976, 1973

http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/nyy/history/all_stars.jsp


National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007

The list of eligible candidates for consideration by the Veterans Committee for election to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2007 has been announced, the first step in the election process to consider players, managers, umpires and executives for next year’s Veterans Committee election, and Sparky Lyle is one of them.

http://www.baseballhalloffame.org/news/2006/060403.htm

The next phase of the process, to take place this summer, will involve a BBWAA-appointed screening committee to pare the list of former players from 200 to 25.