Eventually, They All Return
For years, the Tigers wouldn't retire Sparky Anderson's number.
For months, the Yankees wouldn't speak Joe Torre's name.
On June 26, the Tigers will retire Sparky's No. 11. That same day, Torre will put on No. 6 for Old-Timers' Day in the Bronx.
The honors are deserved. The feuds were petty. They usually are.
And at least Torre has made up with the Yankees while he's still alive. The Tigers waited for Sparky's death last November to finally do the right thing and honor him.
Sparky left the Tigers on not-so-good terms at the end of the 1995 season. He came back for one Sparky Anderson Day, convinced that the Tigers were going to retire his number -- and they didn't. He came back two years ago, for the 25th reunion of his 1984 champions, but the honor was for the team, and not really for him.
Torre left the Yankees on not-so-good terms at the end of the 2007 season. When they closed old Yankee Stadium a year later, the Yankees pointedly left Torre's name completely off a video tribute. He came back last year for the unveiling of a monument to George Steinbrenner, but the Old-Timers' return feels more significant.
Old-Timers' Day means more for the Yankees than it does anywhere else -- do they even hold Old-Timers' Day anywhere else anymore? -- and thus Thursday's announcement of the 2011 participants held some significance.
Torre is on the list for the first time. So is Bernie Williams, who had his own not-so-good departure, but has since returned with some regularity -- and always to huge cheers. So is Lou Piniella.
They should be there. Torre should feel welcome at Yankee Stadium, just as Sparky Anderson should have always felt welcome at Comerica Park.
At some point, everyone remembers that. You just hope it's not too late.
