Bobby Cox facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bobby Cox
Cox in 2009
Third baseman / Manager
Born: (1941-05-21)May 21, 1941 Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.
Died: May 9, 2026(2026-05-09) (aged 84)
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	2,504–2,001–3
Winning %	.556
Teams
As player New York Yankees (1968–1969) As manager Atlanta Braves (1978–1981, 1990–2010) Toronto Blue Jays (1982–1985) 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, known as Bobby Cox, was a famous American baseball player and manager. He was born on May 21, 1941, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Bobby Cox played as a third baseman for the New York Yankees. He later became a highly successful manager for the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays.

Bobby Cox is a respected member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He led his teams to 100 wins in a season six times. This is a record matched by only one other manager, Joe McCarthy.

He first managed the Braves from 1978 to 1981. Then, he led the Blue Jays from 1982 to 1985. He returned to the Braves in 1986 as a general manager. In 1990, he became their manager again and stayed until he retired in 2010. Cox guided the Atlanta Braves to a World Series championship in 1995. The Braves honored him by retiring his jersey number, 6.

Bobby Cox holds the record for the most ejections in Major League Baseball (MLB) history, with 158. He also led his teams to the playoffs 16 times, which is another impressive record. He was known for stepping in to protect his players from ejections. Bobby Cox passed away on May 9, 2026, at the age of 84.

Bobby Cox's Baseball Journey

Playing Days

Bobby Cox began his baseball journey by signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers. However, he never played for their main team. He was later traded to the New York Yankees. Cox played for the Yankees in 1968 and 1969. He mostly played as a third baseman. He also played in the Venezuelan Winter League for several years.

Starting as a Manager

Bobby Cox started his managing career in 1971. He worked with the Yankees' minor league teams. In 1976, he led the Syracuse Chiefs to a championship. The next year, in 1977, he was a first base coach for the World Series–winning Yankees.

Leading the Braves (First Time)

In 1978, Cox became the manager of the Atlanta Braves. The team had struggled in previous seasons. He worked to build a stronger team. One of his smart moves was changing Dale Murphy from a catcher to a center fielder. Murphy later became a star player. In 1980, the Braves had their first winning season since 1974. Cox managed the Braves until 1981.

Guiding the Blue Jays

Cox then joined the Toronto Blue Jays in 1982. The Blue Jays improved steadily under his leadership. In 1983, he led them to their first winning record ever. By 1985, the Blue Jays won their first division title. They played in the American League Championship Series but lost in a close seven-game series. After the 1985 season, Cox decided to return to Atlanta to be closer to his family.

Back with the Braves: General Manager and Manager

Building a Winning Team

Bobby Cox returned to the Atlanta Braves in 1986 as their general manager. He spent four years finding talented young players. These players included future stars like Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, John Smoltz, Ron Gant, and David Justice. He also drafted Chipper Jones, who became a Braves legend. In 1990, Cox took over as the field manager again. He then handed the general manager role to John Schuerholz.

World Series Glory and Challenges

In 1991, the Braves made an amazing comeback. They went from last place to first place in just one year. They played in the 1991 World Series but lost to the Minnesota Twins. In 1992, the Braves reached the World Series again but lost to the Toronto Blue Jays. They also made it to the NLCS in 1993 but lost to the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Braves' hard work paid off in 1995. Bobby Cox led them to win the 1995 World Series championship against the Cleveland Indians. This was his only World Series title as a manager. In 1996, the Braves returned to the World Series. They took an early lead against the New York Yankees but eventually lost the series. Cox was ejected from a game during that World Series.

The Braves continued to be a strong team. They reached the National League Championship Series several times in the late 1990s. They played in the 1999 World Series but lost to the New York Yankees. In 2001, Cox's team won their division and beat the Houston Astros in the playoffs. However, they lost to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NLCS. One memorable game during this time was on September 21, 2001. The Braves played the New York Mets in the first major sports event in New York City after the September 11 attacks.

Final Seasons and Retirement

From 2002 to 2005, the Braves continued to win their division. However, they struggled to advance past the first round of the playoffs. On September 23, 2009, Bobby Cox announced that 2010 would be his final 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 in a special game. His final game as manager was on October 11, 2010. The Braves were eliminated from the playoffs by the San Francisco Giants. He received a standing ovation from the crowd and both teams.

Managerial Records

Life Beyond the Field

Bobby Cox was married to Mary Xavier from 1961 to 1977, and they had five children. He later married Pamela, and they had three daughters together.

In 2019, Bobby Cox experienced a stroke. This affected his right arm, causing some paralysis. Despite this, he remained interested in baseball. He often received visits from his baseball friends and colleagues. In 2020, he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Cox attended a Braves game in July 2024, his first in-person game since 2019. He met with players and received a standing ovation. Due to his health, he was unable to attend the 2025 All-Star Game in Atlanta. Bobby Cox passed away on May 9, 2026.

Awards 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. He won the award in 1985, 1991, 2004, and 2005. He is one of only a few managers to win this award in both the American and National Leagues. He also won The Sporting News Manager of the Year award eight times.

On May 12, 2007, Cox became the fourth-winningest manager in MLB history. He led the Braves to a division title every season from 1991 to 2005, except for the strike-shortened 1994 season. 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 reached his 2,500th career win on September 25, 2010.

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

Bobby Cox holds the all-time record for ejections in MLB, with 158. He often got ejected to protect his players from being thrown out of games. His first ejection happened on May 1, 1978, while managing the Braves against the Mets. Cox was also ejected from two World Series games. He was ejected in Game 3 of the 1992 World Series for throwing a batting helmet. In Game 6 of the 1996 World Series, he was ejected for arguing a call.

In 1981, Cox was inducted into the Fresno County Athletic Hall of Fame. On August 12, 2011, he was inducted into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame. His number six jersey was also retired by the team. Bobby Cox was unanimously elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2013. His induction ceremony took place on July 27, 2014. In 2019, he was inducted into the International League 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