Reds fans were taken aback when Sparky Anderson showed up in Cincinnati for his first day as a big league manager, an unknown taking over baseball’s first professional team.

Sparky who?

Really?

By the time he was done, this man with the shock of white hair and schoolboy nickname would produce a mighty list of achievements that featured three World Series titles — including crowns in each league — and a Hall of Fame entry on his resume.

Anderson, who directed the Big Red Machine to back-to-back championships and won another in Detroit, died Thursday from complications of dementia in Thousand Oaks, Calif. He was 76. A day earlier, his family said he’d been placed in hospice care. Anderson was the first manager to win World Series titles in both leagues and the only manager to lead two franchises in career wins.

MLB

Texas manager gets new contract

Arlington, Texas — Manager Ron Washington signed a new two-year contract Thursday with the AL champion Texas Rangers, a move that had been expected since before the playoffs began.

The deal through the 2012 season was completed three days after the end of the Rangers’ first World Series.

Red Sox keep DH Ortiz

New York — The Boston Red Sox kept designated hitter David Ortiz by exercising a $12.5 million club option Thursday, and the San Francisco Giants declined a $9.5 million option on World Series MVP Edgar Renteria.

Teams had until midnight EDT to exercise options under the new rules agreed to by the commissioner’s office and players’ association in September. Under the fast-track timetable, free agents such as Cliff Lee, Carl Crawford and Jayson Werth can start negotiating with all teams this Sunday, the sixth day after the World Series.

Pujols hoping for extension

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic — Albert Pujols hopes to negotiate a contract extension for beyond 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals.

St. Louis exercised a $16 million option for 2011 on Oct. 6 for the three-time NL MVP.

“I hope that before the season begins I get an extension,” the 30-year-old Pujols said during a news conference Thursday.

College Administration

NCAA penalizes Michigan

Ann Arbor, Mich. — The NCAA handed Michigan a third year of probation Thursday for practice and training violations, declining to sharply punish Rich Rodriguez or his program for an embarrassing problem that cropped up just a week before last season.

Rodriguez had been charged with failing to promote an atmosphere of compliance in the program — a serious allegation with potentially serious penalties — but the NCAA changed it to a failure to monitor the details.

College Football

QB Martinez game-time decision

Lincoln, Neb. — Nebraska football coach Bo Pelini says the status of injured quarterback Taylor Martinez will be a game-time decision for Saturday at Iowa State. Martinez sprained his right ankle last week against Missouri.

NFL

Harrison fined again for hard hit

Pittsburgh — Steelers linebacker James Harrison was fined $20,000 on Thursday for a late hit on Saints quarterback Drew Brees, the third time he has been fined this season for a dangerous tackle.

The penalties total $100,000, including a $75,000 fine for his Oct. 17 helmet hit on Browns wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi.

Sims calls $50K fine outrageous

Philadelphia — Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Ernie Sims on Thursday called his $50,000 fine by the NFL “outrageous,” and said he planned to appeal. Sims was docked Wednesday for a hit on Tennessee wide receiver Lavelle Hawkins. According to a league statement, Sims was guilty of “unnecessarily striking a defenseless receiver in the neck and head area with his forearms.”

Raiders to start Campbell vs. Chiefs

Alameda, Calif. — Jason Campbell will make his fourth straight start at quarterback this week for the Oakland Raiders when they take on the Kansas City Chiefs. Bruce Gradkowski is still not fully recovered from a separated right shoulder.

NBA

Portland center Oberto retires

Portland, Ore. — Portland Trail Blazers center Fabricio Oberto abruptly retired Thursday because of a previously diagnosed cardiac condition that caused heart palpitations.