Page 324 - 2021 ATL Media Guide

FRONT OFFICE Bobby 6

cox

MANAGER
MANAGER & STAFF Bats Right Full Name Robert Joe Cox
Throws Right
Weight 185
Height 6-0
Resides Tulsa, OK
DOB 5/21/1941
Years With Braves 1978-1981, 1990-2010
Number Retired 2011
Known as the consummate “players” manager, with Atlanta). The Sporting News, in a poll of his
Bobby Cox treated everyone with respect and dignity. peers, honored Cox as the league’s top skipper seven
PLAYER BIOS including 25 seasons in two stints at the helm of the other manager has won the Sporting News award
times with the Braves and eight times overall. No
He spent 29 seasons as a Major League skipper,
more than three times since the magazine started the
Braves. His 2,504 wins rank fourth all-time and include
a franchise-best 2,149 victories with the Braves and balloting in 1936. In 1991 the Associated Press named
355 with the Toronto Blue Jays. Cox posted an overall him MLB Manager of the Year, as he became the first
career record of 2,504-2001-3 (.556). The 2010 manager to earn that honor in both leagues, having
campaign marked his final season on the bench, as also won it while with the Blue Jays in 1985. Cox
SEASON IN REVIEW Wild Card. The 2010 campaign was Cox’s 15th with 90 sports championship in 1995 when the Braves beat
Atlanta went 91-71 and claimed the National League’s
brought the city of Atlanta its first major professional
Cleveland, four games to two, in the World Series.
or more wins, tying him for second all-time in 90-win
seasons with Hall of Fame skipper Joe McCarthy
Cox managed the Braves from 1978 to ‘81, compiling
(15) and putting him one behind the legendary
John McGraw (16). Cox and McCarthy are the only a 266-323 record and laying the groundwork for the
club’s NL West title in 1982. He began a four-year
managers in Major League history to compile six 100- tenure as Toronto’s manager in 1982, lifting a habitual
PLAYER DEVELOPMENT Braves victory, making him just the fourth skipper in World Series berth in 1985. Cox returned to the Braves
win seasons. On June 8, 2009, Cox posted his 2,000th last-place team to within one game of attaining a
as general manager in October 1985 and oversaw
big-league history to claim 2,000 wins with one team,
a farm system which set the foundation for great
joining Connie Mack (Athletics), John McGraw (Giants)
success. He added the field managing responsibilities
and Walter Alston (Dodgers). On September 29, 2004,
in the season’s final home game, Cox earned his
duties when the Braves named John Schuerholz as
2,000th career victory with a 6-4 decision over the
New York Mets. He became just the ninth skipper in on June 22, 1990, then devoted all his time to those
General Manager in October of that year. When Braves
big-league history to reach the milestone. Cox won owner Ted Turner fired Cox in 1981, Turner was asked
BRAVES HISTORY in Atlanta that led to five pennants (1991, 1992, 1995, manager. “It would be Bobby Cox if I hadn’t just fired
15 division crowns in his career, including 14 straight
at the press conference who was likely to be the next
him,” Turner said. “We need someone like him around
1996 and 1999) and one World Championship (1995).
here.” The Braves retired Cox’s uniform number 6 and
He had a string of 15 consecutive winning seasons
from 1991 to 2005, tying him with Al Lopez and Earl
Weaver for third place all-time in consecutive winning inducted him into the Braves Hall of Fame in August
2011. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall
campaigns. Cox was voted the Manager of the Year of Fame in July 2014, along with two of his former
by the Baseball Writers Association of America four pitchers, Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine.
times (1985 with Toronto and 1991, 2004 and 2005
OPPONENTS Managerial Record
Overall Vs. Division Extra Innings
Year Club / League W-L Pct. Pos. W-L Pct. W-L Pct
1971 Ft. Lauderdale / FSL 71-70 .504 4th
1st
1972 West Haven / Eastern 84-56 .600 3rd
Syracuse / International
1973
.521
76-70
MISCELLANEOUS 1974 Syracuse / International 74-70 .590 2nd 38-52 .422 6-8 .429
.514
72-64
3rd
Syracuse / International
.529
1975
2nd
82-57
Syracuse / International
1976
6th
1978
69-93
.426
Atlanta / National
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2021 ATLANTA BRAVES MEDIA GUIDE