Anderson's accomplishment was equaled in the 2006 World Series, when St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa—who had previously won the World Series with the Oakland Athletics in 1989, and who considers Anderson his mentor—led his team to the title over the Detroit Tigers. Coincidentally, having won a championship while managing the Florida Marlins in 1997, Tigers manager Jim Leyland could have achieved this same feat had the Tigers defeated La Russa's Cardinals in the 2006 World Series. During that series, Anderson threw out the ceremonial first pitch of Game 2 at Comerica Park, the Tigers' home park.