Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts, left, talks to starting pitcher Tyler Anderson as he takes him out of the game after Anderson gave up a triple to Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani during the ninth inning of Wednesday interleague game in Los Angeles. Anderson had a no-hitter going until that point. AP photo

I walked into the newsroom at The Post-Journal for the first time nearly 40 years ago. As a green-as-grass regional government reporter, one of my first introductions was to Manley Anderson, the dean of the editorial staff whose desk was but a few feet from mine.

Manley knew just about everything that was going on in our little corner of the world, so I relied heavily on him in those days as I navigated village board meetings and public hearings. To be honest, I wouldn’t have survived my news reporting role without Manley taking me under his wing. Plus, his humor and his endless stories were priceless.

Upon joining the Sports Department eight months later, I still made sure to stay connected with Manley, anxiously anticipating hearing about his latest adventure or road trip. His favorite destination was always Nevada where he spent time with his family. Upon his return from one of his annual western vacations, Manley would always regale me about his grandson, Tyler, then a preteen, who was already drawing raves for his talents on the baseball diamond.

As it turned out, Tyler only got better with age.

He was drafted twice — first by the Minnesota Twins in 2008 (he didn’t sign) and then with the 20th overall pick in the first round by the Colorado Rockies in 2011. Thus began an odyssey that ultimately landed him with the Dodgers just before opening day this season. Sadly, Manley wasn’t alive to witness any of it, having passed away in 2008 at 82.

Fans cheer for Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson after he was taken out of the game after he gave up a triple to Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani during the ninth inning of Wednesday’s interleague game in Los Angeles. AP photo

Fast-forward to earlier this week.

Upon learning that Tyler had taken a no-hitter into the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Dodgers Stadium on Wednesday night, I immediately thought of Manley and how proud he would have been and the stories he would have told.

I also knew of someone else who was bursting with pride — John Anderson, Tyler’s dad and Manley’s son.

So, I called him on Thursday afternoon.

Fans cheer for Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson after he was taken out of the game after he gave up a triple to Los Angeles Angels’ Shohei Ohtani during the ninth inning of Wednesday’s interleague game in Los Angeles. Anderson had a no-hitter going until that point. Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Tyler Anderson throws to the plate during the ninth inning of Wednesday’s interleague game against the Los Angeles Angels in Los Angeles. AP photo

Tyler has had 123 starts during his Major League career that also includes stops with the Rockies, Pirates, Giants and Mariners.

For John, every game has been a “mini-heart attack.”

But despite some occasional issues with the home-plate umpire’s strike zone, the construction supervisor felt pretty good about Tyler almost immediately against the Angels.

“I can tell within the first seven or eight pitches if he has his stuff,” John said. “(Wednesday) night, I could see, boom, right away he was spotting up, he had his stuff working and he was on it.”

Although he claimed to be “fairly calm,” John’s favorite “stick” — a table leg actually — was never far away as he watched the game on television from his Las Vegas home.

“I have this stick for every game,” he said. “I swing it around. … If I have to watch day games at work, I’m swinging a stick around. … If I don’t have my stick, I feel kind of odd.”

Actually, it was the Angels who felt out of sorts.

In 8 1/3 innings, Tyler threw a career-high 123 pitches, 78 for strikes. He struck out eight, walked two to lower his ERA to 2.82 and raised his record to a sparkling 8-0. The only hit he allowed was a triple to Shohei Ohtani with one out in the ninth.

John said that he thought Tyler might be pulled after the sixth inning upon reaching 80 pitches, but Dodgers manager Dave Roberts opted to keep the left-hander in the game. Roberts, who played for the Jamestown Jammers of the New York-Pennsylvania League in 1994, has been criticized in the past for pulling his starters even though they had been working on a no-hitter or a perfect game.

“I kept looking in the dugout and they weren’t coming over to talk to (Tyler),” John said. “He was still sitting there. … Plus, the bullpen wasn’t up.”

In the ninth inning, he struck out three-time MVP Mike Trout for the first out.

“I thought when he struck out Mike Trout, I thought he might get (the no-hitter), I really did,” John said.

But Ohtani took the first pitch he saw — a cutter — to right field for a triple.

“It was just a little up (in the strike zone),” John said. “Shohei Ohtani doesn’t miss much, you know?”

There wouldn’t be a 124th pitch.

They were all there, encircling Tyler on the mound.

There was Freddie Freeman, the first baseman; Trea Turner, the shortstop; Max Muncy, the third baseman; Gavin Lux, the second-sacker; and Will Smith, the catcher.

Moments later, the Dodgers were joined by Roberts who spoke briefly to Anderson and then called for reliever Craig Kimbrel from the bullpen.

As Tyler walked off the mound, he received a resounding ovation from the crowd of 50,812.

“I think a lot of the Dodgers’ fans are hard-working people,” John said. “They come out and see somebody putting in a hard day at the office and that’s what he did. I think he gained a lot of respect for that.”

Before he entered the dugout, Tyler doffed his cap, an appreciative gesture to the Dodger faithful, but also a tribute to his grandfather.

“He has my dad’s name in his hat,” John said. “I know he’s done that for a lot of years.”

With the way Tyler has pitched so far this season, acknowledging appreciative crowds may be a regular occurrence.

“He could even get to the All-Star Game,” John said. “You don’t know that for sure, but they were talking about it (on TV), and it is at Dodger Stadium, so there’s that.”

John said he didn’t talk to his son after the game, but he did send Tyler a text.

“I told him that I really don’t have any words for a game like that, except ‘freaking awesome.'”

Manley would no doubt agree.

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