Atlanta Braves Top Franchise Managers– #2 Bobby Cox

Cox Trivia

• Cox’s 2504 Major League wins rank fourth on the all-time list. His 2149 wins managing the Atlanta Braves is twice as many as Frank Selee in second, and his 2149-1709 record, .557 W-L%, is behind Frank Selee, Fred Haney, and Harry Wright.
• He holds the record for postseason appearances by a manager (16), division titles (15), and wins on his birthday (19).
• Bobby not only holds the record for managerial ejections with 158, he’s also the only manager ejected from a World Series game, and it happened twice: 1992 World Series, Game 3, and 1996 World Series game 6.

Epilogue

Cox stayed for three seasons, retiring after the Cardinals won the outfield- fly-rule game – me bitter, nah, not me – to a standing ovation from the Cardinals and the crowd.

• The Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame inducted Cox in 1981.
• In 2011, the Atlanta Braves inducted Cox into the team’s Hall of Fame and retired his number 6.
• In 2014, Cox saw his plaque added to other baseball immortals in Cooperstown.
• In 2020, International League inducted Cox into its Hall of Fame.
  

The day after attending opening day ceremonies at Sun Trust Park in 2019, Bobby had a stroke. His health has improved, and he speaks with Brian Snitker before every game.

It seems appropriate to get an outsider’s view of Bobby’s career. For that, I’ll turn to Sparky Anderson, as quoted in Bobby’s SABR bio.

"“I always gave Bobby the name ‘The Greatest,’ and I believe that. I believe Bobby Cox can out manage every living soul you want to see.”"

Bobby’s players echo a theme that Tom Glavine sums up well.

" “. . .He was so good at getting the best and most out of his guys. He treated everybody with the utmost respect and made everybody understand that whether you were a superstar or the 25th man coming out of spring training, you were going to be an important piece of the puzzle. He made guys not only understand that but believe it.”"

That's a Wrap

Bobby Cox is one of those rare living legends that earned the title. He led a team to the most remarkable run of postseason success in any sport and gave all the credit to his players.

He was a true player’s manager because he told his player’s the truth but never threw one under the bus, even for an egregious error. Marquis Grissom said it best, “if you can’t play for him, you can’t play for nobody.”