Bobby Cox dies at 84: Braves pay tribute to manager that led team to 14-straight division titles, World Series originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Bobby Cox, the Hall of Fame manager who led the Braves to more than 2,100 wins and the 1995 World Series, died on Saturday. He was 84 years old.
Cox was the architect of Atlanta's NL West andNL East-conquering sides of the 1990s and 2000s, leading the Braves to the playoffs 16 times. The Braves made it to five World Series during Cox's tenure, with their 1995 triumph representing the organization's first in 38 seasons.
A former third baseman who also lifted gold as a member of the Yankees in 1968, Cox was renowned for his management skills and tactical acumen. He was elected unanimously into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.
Here's what we know about Cox's death and how Atlanta and others paid tribute to him.
Bobby Cox dies at 84
The Braves announced Cox's death on social media on Saturday afternoon.
"We are overcome with emotion on the passing of Bobby Cox, our treasured skipper," Atlanta said in a statement. "Bobby as the best manager to ever wear a Braves uniform. … His managerial legacy will never be matched."
Born in Tulsa, Cox first emerged as a player, spending two seasons with the Pinstripers. He transitioned to management in the 1970s, landing a gig with Atlanta after a successful stint as a manager in New York's farm system.
Cox spent four seasons in Braves colors before being sacked following a fifth-place finish in the second half of the 1981 season. Cox landed in Toronto, steering the Blue Jays towards relevancy. In 1985, Toronto won 99 games, falling just short of a AL pennant. The Braves came calling once more, this time seeking Cox's services as a general manager. He spent five years in the post before appointing himself skipper following Russ Nixon's dismissal in June 1990.
Cox tallied 2,504 wins across his major league career, the fourth-highest tally in major-league history. His .556 win percentage ranks 13th among managers with at least 1,000 wins.
A four-time NL Manager of the Year recipient, Cox was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2011. He leaves behind his wife, Pam, children and grandchildren.
