| Coach "Guy" Anderson, head coach of the | | | | when they come out for the team now, |
| Cordova High School baseball team (suburb of | | | | Anderson says, some players have to be taught |
| Sacramento, Calif.), calls himself "old school." In | | | | even the most fundamental baseball skills. |
| 40-plus years he has coached the varsity team | | | | But if mostly average players is what a coach |
| to 840 victories, the most wins of any high | | | | ends up with, then the kind of program Anderson |
| school coach currently in the nation. Anderson | | | | has developed over the years is crucial to |
| believes his "old school" methods have played a | | | | success. |
| role in the development of the young men who | | | | Following warm ups, the team then begins regular |
| won those games for Cordova High on the ball | | | | throwing. The players begin by taking a knee and |
| field. | | | | throwing a short distance. Once they're limber, |
| One of those players is Jerry Manuel, manager of | | | | they begin throwing in earnest, eventually |
| the New York Mets, who was a first round pick in | | | | extending out their throws to 110 feet, and then |
| 1972. Another is Geoff Jenkins, who won a World | | | | shortening the throws. Next, they do a tossing drill |
| Series ring with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008. | | | | Coach Anderson calls "quick fire," that requires |
| Each can attest to Anderson's winning ways. In all, | | | | hand-eye coordination and quick foot movements. |
| 24 of Anderson's players have been drafted by | | | | Then the players go to their individual defensive |
| major league teams, and many more have gone | | | | positions. |
| on to play at the college level. | | | | Anderson says he got the idea for these types |
| As with most established coaches, Anderson has | | | | of drills from "Bud" Wilkinson, who led University |
| developed a routine of conditioning and practicing | | | | of Oklahoma football teams to national |
| that leads to team victories. His players begin | | | | championships in 1950, 1955 and 1956, and |
| each practice with a series of stretching | | | | amassed a 47-game win streak, an NCAA Division |
| exercises, then running. When they conclude their | | | | 1 record that stands today. Wilkinson was known |
| running the team participates in a Cordova High | | | | as an ultra-organized coach, who broke down |
| tradition of each player running to the center field | | | | practices in 10-minute concentrated segments; not |
| fence and touching the 360 foot sign. | | | | a minute wasted and purpose driven. Adopting |
| But it takes more than conditioning and tradition | | | | that concept has garnered Anderson election to |
| to field a winning club these days. It starts with | | | | the prestigious National High School Hall of Fame |
| players who have what Anderson terms | | | | and the American Baseball Coaches Association |
| "God-given ability," and he admits to seeing fewer | | | | Hall of Fame and Easton Sports voted him |
| players with that kind of skill these days. For | | | | "Master Coach" in 2003. |
| instance, this year just 12 students made the | | | | Asked what one thing he would do different in his |
| Cordova High varsity. In the glory years of the | | | | coaching career, Anderson offers that he would |
| 1980s and '90s, when Anderson's teams won | | | | show more "compassion" while still adhering to his |
| three Sac-San Joaquin Section baseball titles, he | | | | standards. He also advises young coaches to |
| often carried up to 22 players on his squad and | | | | develop a written agreement, spelling out the |
| turned away many more. Today, an intra-squad | | | | coach's rules or expectations and requiring both |
| game is out of the question. | | | | players and their parents to sign off. |
| Anderson says one reason for the lack of | | | | This type of attention to detail, and love of the |
| talented players is that fewer kids play catch with | | | | game, helps to build a winning program. It doesn't |
| fathers, an outgrowth of single-parent families. | | | | hurt to have the consistency of a head coach |
| Moreover, there are a greater number of | | | | with 40+ consecutive years, either. |
| distractions-from mobile phone video games to | | | | "(Baseball) is a special game to me," Anderson |
| club sports such as rugby and lacrosse, that didn't | | | | says proudly. And Guy Anderson will surely go |
| exist in California in prior decades. Consequently, | | | | down as a "special" coach. |