Bobby Cox facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bobby Cox
Cox with the Braves in 2009
Third baseman / Manager
Born: (1941-05-21) May 21, 1941 (age 84) Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
April 14, 1968, for the New York Yankees
Last appearance
October 1, 1969, for the New York Yankees
MLB statistics
Batting average	.225
Home runs	9
Runs batted in	58
Managerial record	2,504–2,001
Winning %	.556
Teams
As player New York Yankees (1968–1969) As manager Atlanta Braves (1978–1981) Toronto Blue Jays (1982–1985) Atlanta Braves (1990–2010) As coach New York Yankees (1977)
Career highlights and awards
2× World Series champion (1977, 1995) 4× Manager of the Year (1985, 1991, 2004, 2005) Atlanta Braves No. 6 retired Braves Hall of Fame
Baseball Hall of Fame
Induction	2014
Vote	100%
Election Method	Expansion Era Committee

Robert Joe Cox (born May 21, 1941) is a former American professional baseball player and manager. He played as a third baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). Bobby Cox played for the New York Yankees. He also managed the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays.

He is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Cox had six seasons where his team won 100 or more games. Only one other manager, Joe McCarthy, has done this as many times.

Cox first managed the Braves from 1978 to 1981. Then, he managed the Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He returned to the Braves in 1986 as a general manager. In 1990, he became the Braves' manager again. He stayed in this role until he retired after the 2010 season.

Bobby Cox led the Atlanta Braves to win the World Series in 1995. The Braves later retired his jersey number, 6, to honor him. Cox holds the record for the most times a manager has been "ejected" from a game in MLB. An ejection means a manager or player is sent off the field by an umpire for breaking rules or arguing too much. He was ejected 158 times during regular season games. He also leads the league with 16 playoff appearances as a manager. He was the first manager since Casey Stengel to reach the postseason ten times.

Bobby Cox's Playing Career

As a player, Bobby Cox first signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, he never played for their main team. He was later traded to the New York Yankees in 1967. Cox played two seasons for the Yankees, mostly as a third baseman.

Bobby Cox's Managerial Journey

Early Coaching Days

Before managing in the United States, Cox played in the Venezuelan Winter League. He played for the Cardenales de Lara and Leones del Caracas clubs. He later managed the Cardenales for three seasons.

In between, he coached and managed in the Yankees' minor league system. This is where younger players develop their skills.

Managing in the Minor Leagues

Cox started his managing career in the Yankees' minor league system in 1971. In 1976, he led the Syracuse Chiefs to win the International League's Governors' Cup. This team had future major league players like Ron Guidry. Overall, Cox had a very successful six years as a minor league manager. He won 459 games and lost 387. He also won two league championships.

After that, he spent the 1977 season as a first base coach for the World Series–winning Yankees. This was before he started managing in the MLB.

First Time with the Atlanta Braves (1978–1981)

Bobby Cox became the manager of the Atlanta Braves in 1978. The team had finished last in their division for the past two seasons. Cox worked to build the team from the ground up. The Braves finished last in 1978 and 1979.

In 1980, Cox made a smart move. He changed power-hitter Dale Murphy from a catcher to a center fielder. Murphy later became one of the best players of the 1980s. In 1980, the Braves finished fourth with a winning record. However, a baseball strike in 1981 affected the season. After that season, the Braves' owner, Ted Turner, let Cox go.

Managing the Toronto Blue Jays (1982–1985)

Cox then joined the Toronto Blue Jays in 1982. The team got better each year under his leadership. In 1985, his fourth season, the Blue Jays finished first in their division.

In the 1985 American League Championship Series, the Blue Jays were up three games to one. But they ended up losing the series to the Kansas City Royals. After the 1985 season, Cox decided to return to Atlanta. He became the Braves' general manager. He said a main reason was to be closer to his family in Marietta, Georgia.

Second Time with the Atlanta Braves (1986–2010)

Becoming General Manager

After a few tough years for the Braves, Bobby Cox fired the manager in June 1990. He then named himself the new field manager. For four years before this, Cox had been gathering talented players. These players included Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, John Smoltz, Ron Gant, and David Justice. He also drafted Chipper Jones, who became a star player. After the 1990 season, he gave the general manager job to John Schuerholz.

The 1991 Season

In 1991, the Braves and the Minnesota Twins made history. They were the first teams to go from last place to first place in just one year. These two teams then met in the 1991 World Series. The Twins won the series in seven games. It was a very exciting series where the home team won every game.

1992 and 1993 Seasons

In 1992, Cox's Braves had a 3–1 lead in the National League Championship Series. But they lost games 5 and 6 before winning game 7. They then lost the World Series to the Blue Jays, Cox's old team. In 1993, the Braves had the best record in baseball. They came back from being 10 games behind in August to win their division. However, they lost the National League Championship Series in six games.

Winning the World Series in 1995

In 1995, the Atlanta Braves won their only World Series championship with Bobby Cox as manager. They defeated the Cleveland Indians.

The 1996 Season

In 1996, the Braves won their division again. They swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the division series. Then, in the National League Championship Series, they were down three games to one against the St. Louis Cardinals. But the Braves made an amazing comeback, winning the last three games. Cox became the only manager to both lose a series after leading 3-1 and win a series after trailing 3-1.

The Braves then played the New York Yankees in the 1996 World Series. The Braves took a two-game lead. But the Yankees came back to win the series in six games. Cox was ejected from Game 6.

Later Seasons (1997–2010)

The Braves continued to be a strong team. They reached the World Series again in 1999 but lost to the New York Yankees.

One memorable game for Cox and the Braves was on September 21, 2001. They played their rivals, the New York Mets. This was the first major professional sports event in New York City after the September 11 attacks.

In 2001, Cox was ejected from eleven games in one season. This tied a record held by other famous managers.

From 2002 to 2005, Cox's Braves won their division every year. However, they did not get past the first round of the playoffs. On September 23, 2009, Cox announced that 2010 would be his final year as manager. He also said he would stay on as an advisor for the team.

On October 2, 2010, the Atlanta Braves honored Bobby Cox at Turner Field. His final game was on October 11, 2010. The Braves were eliminated by the San Francisco Giants in the National League Division Series. He received a standing ovation from the crowd. He finished his career with 2,504 wins and 2,001 losses in the regular season.

Managerial Record

Bobby Cox's Personal Life

Bobby Cox is married to Pamela and they have eight children.

In 2019, Cox was hospitalized after having a stroke. Five months later, he visited SunTrust Park to watch the Braves play. The Braves won that game. As a result of the stroke, Cox has weakness in his right arm. The stroke did not affect his thinking. He still loves baseball and gets visits from old friends like Braves manager Brian Snitker. In 2024, Cox attended a Braves game, his first since 2019. He met with players and received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Bobby Cox's Achievements

Bobby Cox's number 6 was retired by the Atlanta Braves in 2011.

Bobby Cox was named Manager of the Year four times. He won the award in 1985, 1991, 2004, and 2005. He is one of only four managers to win the award in both the American and National Leagues. He and Kevin Cash are the only managers to win the award in two years in a row. The Sporting News also named Cox Manager of the Year eight times.

On May 12, 2007, Cox became the fourth-winningest manager in major league history. He led the Braves to win their division every season from 1991 to 2005. This excludes the 1994 season, which was shortened by a strike. He won a World Series Championship in 1995. In 2001, he became the manager with the most wins in Braves history.

On June 8, 2009, Cox won his 2,000th game with the Atlanta Braves. He is only the fourth manager in MLB history to achieve this with one team. Cox reached 2,500 career wins on September 25, 2010. He is also one of only four managers in MLB history to do so.

Bobby Cox following an ejection from a game in September 2009.

On September 17, 2010, Cox was ejected for the 158th time in his MLB career. He holds the all-time record for most ejections. He set this record on August 14, 2007, with his 132nd ejection. Unlike some managers, Cox was not known for having a quick temper. He often got ejected to protect his players from being thrown out of the game.

Cox is also the only person to be ejected from two World Series games. He was ejected in Game 3 of the 1992 World Series. He accidentally threw a batting helmet onto the field. He was ejected again in the final game of the 1996 World Series. This happened after he argued an umpire's call.

In 1981, Cox was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame.

On August 12, 2011, Bobby Cox was inducted into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame. His number six jersey was also retired. A ceremony was held on the field before a game against the Chicago Cubs.

Cox was unanimously chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame on December 9, 2013. The official ceremony took place on July 27, 2014.

In 2019, the International League announced that Cox would be inducted into its Hall of Fame. They noted his success as a manager with the Syracuse Chiefs.

Images for kids

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  Bobby Cox for kids

See also

• List of Major League Baseball managers with most career ejections
• List of Major League Baseball managers with most career wins