His career began in 1978, when he was hired by then Braves owner Ted Turner to manage the Braves. They were in last place then, rather irrelavant. They had exactly two great players. A knuckleballer named Niekro, and a catcher, named Dale Murphy, who would go on to become a pretty good outfielder.
I wasn't a Braves fan during Cox's first four years with the Braves, as I became a fan in 1983, at which time he was managing Toronto. Cox managed the Braves the first time, before being fired in 1981 by Turner. Bobby then went to Toronto for four years, to manage the Blue Jays, before returning to Atlanta to become General Manager, in 1985. At the time, Cox took over a barren Braves team, that had lost 96 games that year, and had little hope.
During his four years in the GM's office, Cox traded for future Hall of Famers like Smoltz, saw another future Hall of Famer, named Glavine, and drafted yet another future Hall of Famer, Larry Wayne Chipper Jones.
Yet, the Braves weren't coming along fast enough. He fired Russ Nixon in 1990, and took the job himself.
One year later, boasting a young pitching staff, the Braves went on one of the most improbable runs in history, rallying from a 9-1-2 game deficit, to get to the seventh game of the World Series. The Braves lost that series, but, that year set the stage, for one of the greatest runs in baseball history.
They would not fail to make the postseason again until 2006., Inbetween were fourteen straight division titles, five NL Pennants, and the 1995 World Championship. In their rotation for most of that time, were three future Hall of Famers. Smoltz, Glavine, and Maddux.
In 2001, Smoltz became the closer, after missing the last season with Arm Surgery. The Braves won another division title. In 2002, Glavine left, they won yet another division title. In 2003, Maddux followed him, yet another division title.
The division titles didnt stop until 2006, when the Mets finally unseated them. After that, came four mediocre seasons. Cox was always there.
His retirement was no surprise. We;ve known he was retiring since last year. This year, he may have done his greatest managing job of all.
In spite of losing productive hitters like Martin Prado, and Chipper Jones, the Braves won 91 games, and made it to the NLDS against the Giants. The series featured four terrific games, of which either team could have won. We know about Brooks Conrad's infamous error last night, and, baseball fans who saw or heard about the game, know what happened tonight.
The Braves were eliminated a few minutes ago, bringing an end to the glorious career of manager Bobby Cox.
Bobby ends his career with 2500 plus wins, fifteen division titles, sixteen playoff appearances, and will go down in history as one of baseball's best managers. Only a few... Lasorda, Larussa, Torre, Stengel.. Mccarthy.. Connie Mack.. the true greats of the game..
It will be very difficult, and different, to see another man in a Braves managerial uniform next year. Whoever takes over for him, can't fill his shoes, because Bobby can never be replaced. He is one of a kind, and hopefully, will one day be in the Hall of Fame.
Goodbye, Bobby, you will be missed, by this Braves fan, who has watched you for half his life. It will not be the same in 2011, without you to debate with umpires, or seeing you come out to the mound to make pitching changes.
Here's hoping he has a great retirement. He deserves it. Few have contributed to the game as Bobby Cox has.
Mitch
I wasn't a Braves fan during Cox's first four years with the Braves, as I became a fan in 1983, at which time he was managing Toronto. Cox managed the Braves the first time, before being fired in 1981 by Turner. Bobby then went to Toronto for four years, to manage the Blue Jays, before returning to Atlanta to become General Manager, in 1985. At the time, Cox took over a barren Braves team, that had lost 96 games that year, and had little hope.
During his four years in the GM's office, Cox traded for future Hall of Famers like Smoltz, saw another future Hall of Famer, named Glavine, and drafted yet another future Hall of Famer, Larry Wayne Chipper Jones.
Yet, the Braves weren't coming along fast enough. He fired Russ Nixon in 1990, and took the job himself.
One year later, boasting a young pitching staff, the Braves went on one of the most improbable runs in history, rallying from a 9-1-2 game deficit, to get to the seventh game of the World Series. The Braves lost that series, but, that year set the stage, for one of the greatest runs in baseball history.
They would not fail to make the postseason again until 2006., Inbetween were fourteen straight division titles, five NL Pennants, and the 1995 World Championship. In their rotation for most of that time, were three future Hall of Famers. Smoltz, Glavine, and Maddux.
In 2001, Smoltz became the closer, after missing the last season with Arm Surgery. The Braves won another division title. In 2002, Glavine left, they won yet another division title. In 2003, Maddux followed him, yet another division title.
The division titles didnt stop until 2006, when the Mets finally unseated them. After that, came four mediocre seasons. Cox was always there.
His retirement was no surprise. We;ve known he was retiring since last year. This year, he may have done his greatest managing job of all.
In spite of losing productive hitters like Martin Prado, and Chipper Jones, the Braves won 91 games, and made it to the NLDS against the Giants. The series featured four terrific games, of which either team could have won. We know about Brooks Conrad's infamous error last night, and, baseball fans who saw or heard about the game, know what happened tonight.
The Braves were eliminated a few minutes ago, bringing an end to the glorious career of manager Bobby Cox.
Bobby ends his career with 2500 plus wins, fifteen division titles, sixteen playoff appearances, and will go down in history as one of baseball's best managers. Only a few... Lasorda, Larussa, Torre, Stengel.. Mccarthy.. Connie Mack.. the true greats of the game..
It will be very difficult, and different, to see another man in a Braves managerial uniform next year. Whoever takes over for him, can't fill his shoes, because Bobby can never be replaced. He is one of a kind, and hopefully, will one day be in the Hall of Fame.
Goodbye, Bobby, you will be missed, by this Braves fan, who has watched you for half his life. It will not be the same in 2011, without you to debate with umpires, or seeing you come out to the mound to make pitching changes.
Here's hoping he has a great retirement. He deserves it. Few have contributed to the game as Bobby Cox has.
Mitch
