If you watched baseball in the 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, and the 2000s, then you probably saw Bobby Cox manage the Atlanta Braves.
Born in May 21, 1941, Cox was a third baseman during his playing days, albeit not a very good one: he finished his career with a .225 average, nine homers, and 58 RBI.
He was appointed as the manager of the Braves in 1978 and lasted until 1981.
A Baseball Institution
After that, he had a stint as the Toronto Blue Jays’ skipper between 1982 and 1985.
In 1986, he was hired as the Braves’ general manager.
However, in 1990, he transitioned to the dugout again and managed the Braves until 2010.
Cox is an institution in the Major Leagues, earning the respect and admiration from fans of at least three generations.
His managerial record speaks for itself: he won 2,504 games and lost 2,001, for a winning percentage of .556.
Win % #MLB Top 12 winningest managers:
Connie Mack .486
John McGraw .586
Tony LaRussa .536
Bobby Cox .556
Joe Torre .538
Sparky Anderson .545
Bucky Harris .493
Joe McCarthy .615
Walter Alston .558
Leo Durocher .540
Bruce Bochy .497
Dusty Baker .532 #Astros— Patrick Creighton (@PCreighton1) June 4, 2021
During his career, Cox lifted the World Series trophy twice: once in 1977 as the first base coach of the New York Yankees, and the other one as the manager of the Braves in 1995.
Cox was named the Manager of the Year four times in his career: 1985, 1991, 2004, and 2005.
The Braves retired his number 6 to honor him and inducted him into the team’s Hall of Fame.
Cox led the Braves to 14 division titles in 15 years between 1991 and 2005, an amazing feat with no precedents.
However, the fact that he could only win one World Series title with some amazingly talented teams that included, among others, Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Andruw Jones, and Chipper Jones, has tarnished his legacy a bit in the eyes of some.
Regardless of his postseason resume, fans of all ages miss Cox and his fiery attitude, one that led him to establish the record for most ejections with 158 in the dugout.
The majority of MLB managers today are so lame and boring. Dave Roberts, Aaron Boone, Gabe Kapler..
I miss passionate, fiery coaches like Bobby Cox, Joe Torre, and Lou Pinella. They made baseball much more entertaining.
— Austin (@OzScriber) June 9, 2021
Personal And Post-Managerial Life
Cox is married to Pamela and has eight children.
In 2019, he was sent to the hospital after suffering a stroke one day after the Braves’ home opener.
He recovered and visited SunTrust Park in the same season, in September.
The stroke left him with his right arm paralyzed.
This year, on May 21, Cox celebrated his 80th birthday.
Braves’ manager Brian Snitker, who is friends with Cox, has said that the latter is suffering from health issues.
Snitker didn’t go into specifics regarding his health status.
However, he was on the record saying how much he, and the Braves’ organization, appreciate Cox.
“I haven’t (had the chance to talk with him yet). I was really busy this morning,” Snitker said the day of Cox’s birthday. “I’m going to try to get ahold of him when we’re done (speaking with reporters). I’ve done a couple videos for him. I just miss him every day he’s not here. I hate it for him. I hate it for us, the guys, because he’s a very valuable piece in this organization. The reason we’re the Braves, a big reason, is Bobby Cox. That’s why the Atlanta Braves are (who they are). So I just want to say happy birthday again to him.”
Postseason success or not, Cox is a legend in the eyes of not only the Braves’ fans, but also to all of baseball.
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I went to high school, with Bobby Cox, in Selma, CA. I was a grade ahead. He married a sweet, Portagese girl, Mary Xsavior. They had five children. Her father, who was a youth baseball coach, died of a heart attack, at 35. Mary was the oldest. She didn’t travel with Bobby. She was busy raising their kids and helping her mom raise her siblings. Remember Jeff Blauser? He helped the Braves win the World Series, in 1995. He was from Meadow Vista, CA., a small, foothill community above Sacramento. He graduated from Placer High School in Auburn, CA. We lived in M.V. for 39 years and watched that winning home run, by Blauser!
Please check out these facts. I can say that I never spoke to Bobby. He nodded to me, when we passed in the hall, on the way to our next class. Mary, however, was a friend of mine, while in school. Have never seen her since those school days. Many things are named for Bobby, in Selma. He had male cousins, in high school, at the same time also.