Possible stroke: News breaking tonight via Zach Klein, WSB Sports Director.
On the heels of so much good news over the past 24 hours, the entire Atlanta Braves family now is holding its collective breath as this report has been received tonight.
Breaking: Hall of Fame Braves manager Bobby Cox was taken to a hospital after suffering a possible stroke. Please keep Bobby in your thoughts and prayers 🙏🏼 pic.twitter.com/1MaXqtlkFJ
— Zach Klein (@ZachKleinWSB) April 3, 2019
The photo above is from last night’s Braves home opener as Cox was called upon to be acknowledged by the capacity crowd and to give the honorary order to ‘play ball’.
Now, mere hours later, we are told that he is feared to have had a stroke this afternoon.
This is a situation in which fans want to know more, but privacy consideration rightly take precedence. Thus the information is still sketchy and it’s likely that we will have to wait to learn whether the family wishes to make a statement on his condition.
WEDNESDAY PM UPDATE:
Bobby Cox remains hospitalized after suffering a stroke Tuesday & having surgery. He’s been seeing visitors. GM Alex Anthopoulos said on MLB Network that he saw Bobby today & he was “in as good a spirits as can be.” He’s as tough as they come. So many folks pulling for you, Bobby
— David O'Brien (@DOBrienATL) April 3, 2019
Honestly, that sounds like pretty good news under the circumstances.
A True Field General
Cox is now 77 years old – 78 in late May – and was named to Baseball’s Hall of Famer by a Veterans Committee in late 2013.
He was a member of 2 World Series Championship teams: 1977 as a 1st base coach for the Yankees and in 1995 as the manager for the Atlanta Braves’ only title.
His managerial record of 2504-2001 ranks him 4th all-time in wins behind Commie Mack, John McGraw and Tony LaRussa. He holds 4 Manager of the Year trophies.
Cox’s most memorable feats, it seems, come from being removed from the field of play. He holds one of the most unbreakable of sports records in having the distinction of being excused from 158 games.
Wikipedia recounts the hilarious exchange between Cox and Jeff Francoeur on the lone occasion in which Jeff was removed from a game by an umpire:
"“I’m like, ‘What do I do?’ He said, ‘Go have a couple cold beers and get in the cold tub or something and relax. And then you’ll probably have to write a $500 check. Or you can do what I do, write a $10,000 one and tell them when it runs out, let me know’.”"
In Jeff’s case… just the $500 would suffice.
Bobby Cox remains as one of the most well-respected figures of baseball in Atlanta. We wish him all the best and he has our prayers for a full recovery.