Bobby Cox

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Lore & Background

Cox first managed the Braves from 1978 to 1981, and then managed the Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He rejoined the Braves in 1986 as a general manager. He moved back to the manager's role during the 1990 season and stayed there until his retirement following the 2010 season. Cox led the Atlanta Braves to 14 consecutive division championships from 1991 to 2005, (interrupted in 1994 when the Montreal Expos were leading the division by 6 games when a strike ended the season), which included a World Series title in 1995. The Braves retired No. 6 in his honor. Cox holds the all-time record for ejections in MLB with 162, a record previously held by John McGraw. He also is the all-time leader among MLB managers in playoff seasons with 16, and he was the first manager since Casey Stengel to have qualified for the postseason 10 times (four managers have since followed him).

In Their Own Story

In May 1995, while guiding the Braves toward their only World Series championship as a manager against the Cleveland Indians, Cox faced personal turmoil. He was arrested on a simple battery charge after his wife called the police and alleged he struck her. She retracted the statement the following day, and charges were dropped after the couple attended court-ordered counseling. On the field, Cox's intensity was legendary; he holds the all-time record for ejections in MLB with 162, a mark previously held by John McGraw. In 2001 alone, he tied a record held by John McGraw, Bill Dahlen, and Paul Richards by being ejected from eleven games in a single season. His strategic acumen was equally vital; in 1983 with the Toronto Blue Jays, he led them to their first winning record, and in 1985, they secured the franchise's first division title in the American League East. That year, during the ALCS against the Kansas City Royals, Cox utilized platooning strategies. The decision by Kansas City manager Dick Howser to counter this by starting a right-handed pitcher before going with left-handed relievers proved key as the Blue Jays, leading three games to one, lost three straight games to drop the series. Cox's ability to build teams was evident from his early years; he moved Dale Murphy from catcher to center field in 1980 due to a throwing block, a move that saw Murphy win two NL MVPs and five Gold Gloves.

Reader's Guide

Cox originally signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959, and bounced around the Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Braves minor league systems for seven seasons. The Braves traded Cox to the New York Yankees for Bob Tillman and Dale Roberts on December 7, 1967. Cox finally made it to the majors in 1968, batting .229 with 7 home runs and 41 RBIs in 135 games at third base for the Yankees. Knee injuries limited Cox to 85 games for the Yankess in 1969. The Yankees assigned Cox to the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs for the 1970 season, ending his time in the Majors. Cox also played from 1967 to 1970 for the Cardenales de Lara and Leones del Caracas of the Venezuelan Winter League. Cox began his managerial career in the Yankees farm system in 1971 with the Class-A Fort Lauderdale Yankees. He was promoted to the AA West Haven Yankees in 1972 and to AAA Syracuse in 1973. In 1976, he led Chiefs to the International League championship. Cox also managed his former Winter Leagure former club, Cardenales in the Venezuelan Winter League, from 1974 to 1977. He then spent the 1977 season as the first base coach on Billy Martin's staff with the World Series–winning Yankees. Cox replaced Dave Bristol as the manager of the Atlanta Braves prior to the 1978 season. He finished his first tenure with the Braves with a 266–323 record. The Toronto Blue Jays hired Cox as their manager in 1982. Cox finished his stint as Jays manager with a 355–292 record. After the 1985 season, Cox left Toronto to return to Atlanta as general manager. After going through two managers over the course of less than five years, Cox fired Russ Nixon in June 1990 and named himself field manager. After the 1990 season, Cox handed the general manager's post to John Schuerholz. In 1991, the Braves, along with the Minnesota Twins, became the first teams to go from last place to first place from one year to the next. In 1995, the Atlanta Braves won Cox's only World Series championship as a manager, over the Cleveland Indians. In May 1995, Cox was arrested on simple battery charge after his wife called police and alleged Cox struck her. She retracted the statement the following day, and the charges were dropped after the couple attended court-ordered counseling. Cox was ejected in Game 6 of the 1996 World Series.

Did You Know?

• Cox holds the all-time record for ejections in MLB with 162.
• He is the all-time leader among MLB managers in playoff seasons with 16.
• Cox recorded a 100-win season six times, a record matched only by Joe McCarthy.