MLB Hall Of Fame Manager Bobby Cox Dies

ATLANTA, GA. (THECOUNT) — Bobby Cox, the Hall of Fame manager who led the Atlanta Braves to one of the most dominant eras in Major League Baseball history, has died, the organization announced Saturday. Cox was 84.

The Atlanta Braves confirmed Cox’s passing in a statement honoring the longtime manager whose name became synonymous with the franchise during a historic run that included 14 consecutive division titles and a World Series championship.

“We are overcome with emotion on the passing of Bobby Cox, our treasured skipper,” the Braves said in the statement. “Bobby was the best manager to ever wear a Braves uniform.”

The organization credited Cox with leading Atlanta to 14 straight division championships from 1991 through 2005, five National League pennants, and the franchise’s 1995 World Series title — the Braves’ first championship since relocating to Atlanta in 1966.

Cox finished his managerial career with 2,504 victories, ranking fourth all-time in Major League Baseball history behind only Connie Mack, John McGraw, and Tony La Russa.

He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014 alongside former Braves pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine.

Widely respected throughout professional baseball for both his leadership and player development skills, Cox managed for 29 seasons overall, including two separate stints with the Braves and four seasons managing the Toronto Blue Jays.

He earned National League Manager of the Year honors four times during his career.

Though his legacy was cemented in the dugout, Cox first reached the major leagues as a player with the New York Yankees during the 1968 and 1969 seasons. His playing career was brief, ending with a .225 career batting average.

After initially managing the Braves from 1978 through 1981, Cox later returned to Atlanta in 1986 after being hired as the club’s general manager by then-owner Ted Turner, who also reportedly died earlier this week.

As general manager, Cox helped construct the roster that would eventually become one of baseball’s defining dynasties of the 1990s and early 2000s.

One of his most significant personnel decisions came when Atlanta selected future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones with the No. 1 overall pick in the 1990 Major League Baseball Draft.

Cox returned to the Braves dugout as manager in 1990, while John Schuerholz assumed the general manager role. The partnership became one of the most successful front-office and managerial combinations in baseball history.

Under Cox’s leadership, the Braves became perennial postseason contenders led by stars including Maddux, Glavine, John Smoltz, Jones, and Brian McCann.

McCann previously described Cox as “one of the best human beings any of us have ever met” and called him “an icon.”

Known for fiercely defending his players, Cox was ejected from games 158 times during regular-season play, the most ejections by any manager in MLB history.

The Braves retired Cox’s No. 6 jersey following his final season managing the team in 2011.

In 2019, Cox suffered a stroke that initially affected his speech and movement on his right side. He later recovered sufficiently to return to the Braves’ home stadium several months afterward.

Tributes from across the baseball world continued pouring in Saturday following news of his death as former players, executives, fans, and organizations reflected on Cox’s influence on the sport and the Braves franchise.

DEVELOPING::