Bobby Cox, who turned the Atlanta Braves into a National League powerhouse during his decades-long stint as manager died at the age of 84, the team confirmed on Saturday, May 9.
“While Bobby’s passion for the game was unparalleled, his love of baseball was exceeded only by his love for his family,” the team said in a statement. “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we send our sincerest condolences to his beloved wife, Pam, and their loving children and grandchildren.”
Cox was Braves manager on two occasions. Atlanta hired him in December 1977 at age 36, making him the NL’s youngest manager at the time. He went 266-323 in his first stint with the team from 1978-81.
The Toronto Blue Jays promptly hired Cox after his firing. He would lead the Blue Jays to three winning seasons over the next four seasons, including a 99-win season and postseason appearance in 1985.
Bobby Cox throwing out a ceremonial first pitch in the 2018 playoffs.
Cox returned to the Braves as a general manager in 1985 and named himself manager in 1990, where he would spend the rest of his managerial career.
Over the next 20 years, Cox would lead the Braves to 14 consecutive division, five National League pennants and a World Series title in 1995.
Cox won four manager of the year awards throughout his 32-year career and finished with 2,504 victories, fourth all time, plus a record 162 ejections. He retired in 2010 and was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2014.
Cox had been the third baseman for the New York Yankees from 1968 to 1969, but injuries cut his playing career short. He would spend the next decade working his way through the Yankees farm system as a manager until he became the first base coach in 1977 and later got his chance with the Braves.
Hall of Fame Braves pitcher Tom Glavine called Cox “the single greatest influence on me as a player, in terms of teaching the game, respecting the game, carrying yourself the right way on and off the field.”
Bobby Cox record
Bobby Cox was 2,504-2,001 in 29 seasons as an MLB manager, winning five National League titles and the 1995 World Series championship.
Rickey Henderson
Frank Robinson
Roger Clemens
Stan Musial
Mickey Mantle
Barry Bonds
Randy Johnson
Mike Trout
Reggie Jackson
Sandy Koufax
Ken Griffey Jr.
Derek Jeter
Cal Ripken Jr.
Ernie Banks
Joe DiMaggio
Walter Johnson
Honus Wagner
Satchel Paige
Ted Williams
Ty Cobb
Josh Gibson
Lou Gehrig
Willie Mays
Hank Aaron
Jackie Robinson
Babe Ruth
Nolan Ryan
Greg Maddux
Roberto Clemente
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Rickey Henderson
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Rickey Henderson
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Frank Robinson
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Roger Clemens
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Roberto Clemente
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Bobby Cox dies: Braves’ Hall of Fame manager was 84 years old
