Bobby Cox

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Lore & Background

Cox's tenure in Atlanta is defined by a historic run of consistency that began after he assumed dual roles as general manager and later field manager. In 1991, he led the Braves from last place to first place, a feat matched only by the Minnesota Twins, though they lost the World Series to them. The following year, Cox's team held a 3–1 lead in the National League Championship Series against the Pittsburgh Pirates before losing Games 5 and 6; however, they secured Game 7 on Francisco Cabrera's ninth-inning, two-out, pinch-hit, two-run single. They went on to lose the World Series to his former club, the Toronto Blue Jays. By 1993, Cox guided the Braves through a pennant race where they overcame a 10-game deficit in August against the San Francisco Giants, going 51–17 over the final two and a half months to win the division by a single game. The most dramatic turnaround occurred in 1996: after falling behind the St. Louis Cardinals three games to one in the NLCS, Cox's offense outscored them 33–1 over the final three games to win the pennant. That same year, facing elimination again in the World Series against the New York Yankees, the Braves took a two-game lead with scores of 12–1 and 4–0 before Jim Leyritz homered to tie Game 4, leading to an 8–6 victory for the Yankees in 11 innings. Cox was ejected in Game 6, becoming the most recent person ejected in a World Series game until Dave Martinez in 2019.

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

Bobby Cox's managerial path began in the Yankees farm system in 1971 with the Class-A Fort Lauderdale Yankees, progressing to AA West Haven in 1972 and AAA Syracuse in 1973. He led the Syracuse Chiefs to an International League championship in 1976 before managing Cardenales de Lara in the Venezuelan Winter League from 1974 to 1977. His major league managerial debut came with the Atlanta Braves in 1978, replacing Dave Bristol. Inheriting a team that had finished last in the National League West for two years and performed worse than the expansion Seattle Mariners in 1977, Cox built from the ground up, finishing last again in 1978 and 1979. By 1980, the Braves posted an 81–80 record, their first above .500 since 1974. After a strike-shortened 1981 season where Atlanta finished fourth in the first half and fifth in the second, owner Ted Turner fired Cox. Turner later admitted at a press conference, "It would be Bobby Cox if I hadn't just fired him." Cox then managed the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985, finishing with a 355–292 record. He returned to Atlanta in October 1985 as general manager, citing a desire to be closer to his family in suburban Marietta, Georgia. In June 1990, he fired Russ Nixon and named himself field manager, handing the GM post to John Schuerholz after the 1990 season. Cox managed until his retirement following the 2010 season, recording six 100-win seasons, a record matched only by Joe McCarthy.

Did You Know?

• Cox holds the all-time MLB record for ejections with 162, surpassing John McGraw's previous record.
• He is one of only two managers to lead a team from last place to first place in consecutive years (1990-1991), matching the Minnesota Twins feat.
• Cox led the Atlanta Braves to 14 consecutive division championships from 1991 to 2005, interrupted only by the 1994 strike.
• He recorded a 100-win season six times as a manager, a record matched only by Joe McCarthy.
• Cox was the first manager since Casey Stengel to qualify for the postseason 10 times.