Former Braves Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox passed away on Saturday.
Bobby got hos start in the Yankees organization, learning baseball from manager Ralph Houk. He was hired by the Braves as manager in the late 70's.
Former longtime Braves beat writer Dave O'Brien wrote:
Cox would set the MLB record for most times being thrown out of a game.
His players always knew that Bobby had their back. Stories of Bobby's tirades are legion.
Turner fired Bobby after the 1981 season. Ted was asked what kind of new manager he was looking for. Turner replied "Someone like Bobby Cox". The Blue Jays hired Cox as manager, and Toronto won their first division championship.
Cox was rehired by the Braves, and the rest is history. Atlanta became the team of the 90's, winning a record number of consecutive division championships, and the 1995 World Series.
Cox was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame the same year as Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux.
Ceil saw Bobby at the nearby Stinky Kroger several times, before Bobby's stroke. Cox kept a low profile afterwards, though many former coaches, players, and executives would often visit Cox at home.
BOBBY COX [SABR Bio] [MLB Obit] Toronto won the AL East for the first time in 1985 with Cox. The Jays had never finished any place but last (1977-1981) until Cox became their manager. For that accomplishment he was voted American League Manager of the Year. He became a hero in Canada. He described it as four of the happiest years of his life. Cox National League Manager of the Year three different times, in ATL in 1991, 2004, & 2005, the first NL manager to win it in consecutive seasons. As a player, he completed a triple play on 03-Jun-1968 in Minnesota. Cox took the toss from P Dooley Womack and fired it to Mickey Mantle at first base for the 3rd out. Cox ranks fourth in career games won as a manager. All three ahead of him required more seasons.
Manger Wins Years %
Connie Mack 3731 53 .486
Tony LaRussa 2884 35 .536
John McGraw 2763 33 .586
Bobby Cox 2504 29 .556
Cox was kicked out of 162 MLB games, 41 more than 2nd-place McGraw.
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