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 on May 21, 1941, is a famous American former baseball player and manager. He played as a third baseman in Major League Baseball (MLB). Cox played for the New York Yankees and later managed the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays. He is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Cox led his teams to 100-win seasons six times. This is a record matched only by another great manager, Joe McCarthy. He 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 that role until he retired after the 2010 season.

Bobby Cox led the Atlanta Braves to win the World Series championship 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 history, with 158 ejections. He also holds the record for the most playoff appearances as a manager, with sixteen.

Playing Baseball

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 December 1967. Cox played for the Yankees for two seasons, mostly as a third baseman.

Becoming a Manager

Before managing in the United States, Cox played baseball in Venezuela. He played for teams like the Cardenales de Lara and Leones del Caracas from 1967 to 1970. He also managed the Cardenales for three seasons.

Starting in the Yankees System

Cox began his managing career in the Yankees' minor league system in 1971. In 1976, he led the Syracuse Chiefs to win the Governors' Cup title. This team included future major league players like Ron Guidry. Overall, Cox had a very successful six years managing minor league teams. He won 459 games and lost 387. In 1977, he worked as a first base coach for the Yankees. That year, the Yankees won the World Series.

Managing the Atlanta Braves (1978–1981)

Bobby Cox became the manager of the Atlanta Braves before the 1978 season. The team had finished last in their division for the previous two years. Cox worked to rebuild the team. In 1980, he made a smart move by changing Dale Murphy from a first baseman-catcher to a center fielder. Murphy later became one of the best players of the 1980s. In 1980, the Braves finished with a winning record for the first time since 1974. However, the 1981 baseball strike affected the season. After that season, the Braves' owner, Ted Turner, fired him.

Managing the Toronto Blue Jays (1982–1985)

Cox then joined the Toronto Blue Jays in 1982. The Blue Jays improved steadily during his four years as manager. In 1985, his fourth season, the Blue Jays finished first in their division. They played in the 1985 American League Championship Series against the Kansas City Royals. The Blue Jays were ahead three games to one, but they lost the series. This was the first time a team lost a playoff series after leading 3-1 in a best-of-seven format.

After the 1985 season, Cox decided to return to Atlanta. He became the general manager for the Braves. He said a main reason for his move was to be closer to his family in Georgia.

Second Time with the Atlanta Braves (1986–2010)

As general manager, Cox gathered many talented players for the Braves. These players included Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, John Smoltz, Ron Gant, and David Justice. He also drafted Chipper Jones, who became a superstar. In June 1990, Cox decided to become the field manager again. After the 1990 season, he gave the general manager job to John Schuerholz.

Amazing Turnaround in 1991

In 1991, the Braves had an incredible season. They went from last place in 1990 to first place in 1991. The Minnesota Twins also did this in the American League. The two teams 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.

World Series Appearances (1992–1999)

In 1992, the Braves reached the 1992 World Series again. They played against Cox's former team, the Toronto Blue Jays. The Blue Jays won the series. In 1993, the Braves had the best record in baseball. They won their division after coming back from a 10-game deficit in August. However, they lost in the 1993 National League Championship Series to the Philadelphia Phillies.

In 1995, the Atlanta Braves won the 1995 World Series championship. They defeated the Cleveland Indians. This was Bobby Cox's only World Series win as a manager.

In 1996, the Braves won their division again. They swept the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first round of the playoffs. Then, they faced the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1996 National League Championship Series. The Braves were down three games to one. But they made an amazing comeback, winning the last three games by a huge margin. Cox became the only manager to 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 2-0 lead, but the Yankees came back to win the series in six games.

The Braves continued to be a strong team. They reached the World Series again in 1999, but lost to the New York Yankees. Cox's team in 2001 won their division and beat the Houston Astros in the first round. However, they lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the next round.

Final Years as Manager (2002–2010)

From 2002 to 2005, the Braves won their division every year. However, they did not advance past the first round of the playoffs during these years. On September 23, 2009, Cox announced that 2010 would be his last year as manager. He also agreed to stay on as an advisor for the team.

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

Managerial Record

Personal Life

Bobby Cox is married to Pamela and they have eight children. In April 2019, Cox was hospitalized after having a stroke. Five months later, in September 2019, he visited SunTrust Park to watch the Braves play. The Braves won that game. As a result of the stroke, Cox has some weakness in his right arm. He still loves baseball and keeps up with the sport. He often gets visits from his old baseball friends, like Braves manager Brian Snitker. In July 2024, Cox attended a Braves game in person for the first time since 2019. He met with players and received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Achievements and Honors

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

Bobby Cox was named Manager of the Year four times (1985, 1991, 2004, 2005). He is one of only four managers to win this 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 passed Sparky Anderson to become the fourth-winningest manager in major league history. He led the Braves to win their division every season from 1991 to 2005, except for the strike-shortened 1994 season. 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 was only the fourth manager in Major League history to achieve this with one team. Cox reached 2,500 career wins on September 25, 2010. He is one of only four managers in Major League history to reach this milestone.

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

On September 17, 2010, Cox was ejected from a game for the 158th time in his 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 fiery 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 (in 1992 and 1996). In 1992, he was ejected for accidentally throwing a batting helmet onto the field. In 1996, he was ejected for arguing a call that went against his team.

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 by the team.

Cox was chosen for the Baseball Hall of Fame on December 9, 2013. The official ceremony took place on July 27, 2014. In September 2014, Cox returned to the Braves part-time. He helped the team choose their new general manager. In 2019, the International League announced that Cox would be inducted into their Hall of Fame.

See also

In Spanish: Bobby Cox para niños

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