Bobby Cox
Robert Joe Cox (born May 21, 1941) is an American former professional baseball third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB).[1][2] After a brief playing career spanning 17 games with the New York Yankees in 1968 and 1969, Cox transitioned to management, leading teams for 29 seasons primarily with the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays.[1] Cox's most notable tenure came during his second stint as Braves manager from 1990 to 2010, where he orchestrated 14 consecutive National League East division titles from 1991 to 2005, five pennants, and the franchise's only World Series victory in that era in 1995.[3] With 2,504 career wins, ranking fourth in MLB history, and a .556 winning percentage also fourth-best among managers with at least 1,000 games, Cox earned four Manager of the Year awards—the first to win in both leagues—and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.[4][5] The Braves retired his uniform number 6 in 2011 in recognition of his contributions.[6] Renowned for his players-first approach and intense advocacy, Cox holds the all-time MLB record for managerial ejections with 162, often stemming from disputes with umpires to protect his team, a trait that underscored his competitive fire but also drew scrutiny for occasional volatility.[7][3] His leadership fostered a dynasty built on pitching dominance and strategic acumen, transforming the Braves into perennial contenders despite only one championship, reflecting the era's parity and playoff expansions.[3]
Early Life and Playing Career
Early Life and Education
Robert Joe Cox was born on May 21, 1941, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[3] His family moved to California's San Joaquin Valley in 1944, where he spent much of his youth in the Fresno area.[8] Cox attended Selma High School in Selma, California, graduating in 1959.[9] He demonstrated early athletic promise, particularly in baseball, playing as a third baseman with strong defensive skills.[10] After high school, Cox enrolled at Reedley Junior College, continuing to hone his baseball abilities before signing as an amateur free agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.[11][9]Professional Playing Career
Cox signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amateur free agent following his time at Reedley College, beginning his professional playing career in their minor league system in 1962.[1] He primarily played third base and second base, spending five seasons in the Dodgers' farm system with modest offensive production, including a .250 batting average across various Class A and Double-A affiliates.[3] [12] In April 1966, the Dodgers traded Cox to the Atlanta Braves organization, where he continued in the minors during the 1966 and 1967 seasons, batting .263 in 1967 with the Triple-A Richmond Braves.[12] After the 1967 season, the New York Yankees acquired him in the Rule 5 draft.[3] Cox made his Major League debut on April 14, 1968, starting at third base for the Yankees against the California Angels.[1] In his rookie season, he played 135 games, hitting .246 with 6 home runs and 37 RBIs while providing solid defense at third base with a .947 fielding percentage.[1] The following year, 1969, he appeared in 85 games, batting .196 with 3 home runs and 21 RBIs, as the Yankees shifted toward younger infielders.[1] Over his two MLB seasons, Cox compiled a .225 batting average in 628 at-bats, with 9 home runs, 58 RBIs, and 3 stolen bases, primarily as a third baseman (178 games) but also seeing time at second base.[1] [2] His major league career ended after the 1969 season, after which he transitioned to coaching and managing roles within the Yankees' system.[13]Managerial Career
Pre-MLB Managing Experience
Cox began his managerial career in the New York Yankees' farm system in 1971, taking over the Class A Fort Lauderdale Yankees of the Florida State League.[14] His tenure there marked his entry into professional managing after a playing career that ended in the minors, and the team opened the season with a narrow 3-2 loss on a walk-off hit.[14] In 1972, Cox advanced to Double-A, managing the West Haven Yankees in the Eastern League to an 84-56 record and the league championship.[14] From 1973 through 1976, he led the Triple-A Syracuse Chiefs of the International League, compiling a 304-261 mark over those four seasons.[15] Under Cox, the Chiefs reached the league finals three times and captured the Governors' Cup championship in 1976 with an 82-57 regular-season record.[15][16] Across his six seasons managing in the minors, Cox maintained winning records each year, achieving an overall mark of 459 wins against 387 losses for a .543 winning percentage, including two league titles.[17] This success in player development and postseason play within the Yankees' system positioned him for a transition to major-league coaching in 1977 before his first MLB managerial role.[14]First Stint with Atlanta Braves (1978–1981)
Bobby Cox was appointed manager of the Atlanta Braves on November 22, 1977, succeeding Dave Bristol and inheriting a franchise that had posted a 60–102 record the prior season, finishing last in the National League West division.[18] The 36-year-old Cox, who had served as third-base coach for the New York Yankees during their 1977 World Series-winning campaign, was tasked with rebuilding a roster featuring emerging talents such as outfielder Dale Murphy and third baseman Bob Horner, amid a broader organizational emphasis on youth development.[19][20] In his debut 1978 season, Cox guided the Braves to a 69–93 record, again placing sixth in the NL West and 24 games behind division-winning Los Angeles Dodgers.[21][22] The following year, 1979, yielded a 66–94 mark, maintaining the sixth-place finish despite contributions from Horner, who led the team with 33 home runs and 87 RBIs.[21] Performance improved modestly in 1980 with an 81–80 record—the franchise's first non-losing season since 1975—fueled by Murphy's breakout (career-high .281 batting average, 23 home runs) and a pitching staff anchored by Phil Niekro's 17 wins.[21][23] However, the 1981 season, shortened by a players' strike to 106 games per team in the split schedule, ended at 50–56 overall (28–28 first half, 22–28 second half), resulting in another sub-.500 finish and elimination from the playoffs.[21] Over four seasons, Cox compiled a 266–323 record (.451 winning percentage) with the Braves, never advancing to postseason play amid persistent divisional struggles against stronger NL West competitors like the Dodgers and Cincinnati Reds.[3] On October 8, 1981, owner Ted Turner dismissed Cox, citing a need for organizational change despite acknowledging his contributions to player growth; Turner reportedly quipped that Cox would top his shortlist for replacement if available.[24][4] The firing followed the strike-disrupted year's disappointments, contrasting the prior season's parity, and paved the way for Cox's subsequent role with the Toronto Blue Jays.[23]Toronto Blue Jays Tenure (1982–1985)
Bobby Cox was hired as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays on October 15, 1981, ahead of the 1982 season, following the resignation of Bobby Mattick.[25] At the time, the expansion franchise had yet to post a winning record in its five prior seasons.[5] In his debut season of 1982, Cox guided the Blue Jays to a 78–84 record, finishing sixth in the American League East and marking the team's first non-sub-.500 finish.[21] The 1983 campaign saw improvement to 89–73, placing fourth in the division despite a competitive AL East.[21] The following year, 1984, yielded another 89 wins against 73 losses, securing third place, as Cox continued to build on a young roster featuring emerging talents like Tony Fernández and Lloyd Moseby.[26][21] Cox's tenure peaked in 1985, when the Blue Jays achieved a franchise-record 99–62 mark, clinching their first AL East title on the final day of the season via a 5–4 win over the New York Yankees.[27] Toronto advanced to the AL Championship Series but fell to the Kansas City Royals in seven games, with the decisive defeat coming on October 12 at Royals Stadium.[27] For his efforts in transforming the team into contenders, Cox earned the American League Manager of the Year Award, becoming the first to later win it in both leagues.[2][28] Over four seasons, his overall record stood at 355–292 (.549 winning percentage).[29] Following the 1985 postseason, Cox departed Toronto to assume the general manager role with the Atlanta Braves, citing the emotional difficulty of leaving a successful organization that had treated him well, though the move allowed a return to his longtime baseball home.[30] His exit paved the way for Jimy Williams as interim manager, but Cox's foundational work positioned the Blue Jays for sustained contention, including World Series titles in 1992 and 1993.[31]Return to Atlanta Braves (1986–2010)
Cox rejoined the Atlanta Braves as general manager in October 1985, immediately following the Toronto Blue Jays' elimination from the American League Championship Series.[3] In this role from 1986 to 1990, he focused on rebuilding the franchise's farm system and acquiring key talent, including trading for pitcher John Smoltz in 1987 and overseeing the 1990 draft selection of third baseman Chipper Jones.[4] These moves laid the foundation for the team's sustained contention in the 1990s. On June 22, 1990, Cox transitioned to field manager, replacing Jimy Williams amid a 35-40 start, while retaining oversight of personnel decisions in a dual role until John Schuerholz assumed full GM duties in October 1990.[13] Under his management through the 2010 season, the Braves achieved unprecedented regular-season dominance, securing 14 consecutive National League East division titles from 1991 to 2005—a major league record—and five National League pennants in 1991, 1992, 1995, 1996, and 1999.[3] [20] The pinnacle of Cox's tenure came in 1995, when the Braves defeated the Cleveland Indians in six games to win the World Series, marking Atlanta's first championship in the modern era and earning Cox the National League Manager of the Year award that season.[5] He received the Manager of the Year honor four times overall (1985 with Toronto, 1991, 2004, and 2005 with Atlanta), becoming the first to win it consecutively in 2004–2005.[13] Cox's Braves teams posted six 100-win seasons, tying a record held by Joe McCarthy, and he amassed 2,149 victories in his second stint with the franchise, the most in Braves history.[4] Cox announced his retirement as manager on September 23, 2009, prior to the 2010 season, citing a desire to step away after 29 years in the role across both leagues.[32] The Braves finished 86–76 in 2010, missing the playoffs, after which Cox concluded his career with a pregame ceremony on October 3, 2010, honoring his contributions to the organization's 25-year stretch of excellence.[3]Managerial Statistics and Records
Bobby Cox compiled a regular-season managerial record of 2,497 wins and 1,999 losses over 29 seasons from 1978 to 2010, yielding a .556 winning percentage.[21][26] His tenure included stints with the Atlanta Braves (1978–1981 and 1991–2010) and Toronto Blue Jays (1982–1985), during which he led teams to 18 division titles, five National League pennants, and one World Series championship in 1995.[21] Cox's Braves teams from his second stint dominated the National League East, securing 14 consecutive division championships from 1991 to 2005, the longest such streak in Major League Baseball history.[3]| Team | Years | Games | Wins | Losses | Win Pct. | Division Titles | Pennants | World Series |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Braves (1st) | 1978–1981 | 589 | 266 | 323 | .451 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Toronto Blue Jays | 1982–1985 | 648 | 306 | 342 | .472 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Atlanta Braves (2nd) | 1991–2010 | 3,516 | 1,925 | 1,334 | .591 | 15 | 5 | 1 (1995) |
| Career | 1978–2010 | 4,753 | 2,497 | 1,999 | .556 | 15 | 5 | 1 |