HOUSTON -- Bill Lucas was far more than just one of Hank Aaron’s closest friends. The beloved trailblazer played a significant part in the Braves’ first hire of Bobby Cox and the development of two-time National League MVP Dale Murphy.

The Braves took time on Saturday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of him becoming the first Black general manager in MLB history.  

Former Braves owner Ted Turner named Lucas to be the team’s vice president of baseball operations on Sept. 19, 1976. Turner wanted to be recognized as both the owner and GM. But it was Lucas who performed all of the GM duties.  

Along with posting about Lucas on their social media channels, the Braves honored their former GM during the broadcast of Saturday’s game against the Astros.

One segment of the pregame show focused on Lucas’ legacy. His memory was also celebrated by the broadcast team just ahead of the first pitch.  

"Bill did so much for me and this entire organization," Murphy said. "This is not an easy profession. It can be very challenging. You just have to hope you have somebody like Bill Lucas in your corner." 

When Lucas came to Atlanta in 1965, a full year before the Braves moved from Milwaukee, he began implementing integration plans, with a conscious attempt at making equally diverse hires for the front office and the staff at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. 

Lucas worked his way up the corporate ladder until he was given the GM responsibilities near the end of the 1976 season. One year later, he chose an up-and-coming Yankees first-base coach named Bobby Cox to be Atlanta’s new manager.

This planted the seeds that would lead to Cox becoming a highly successful general manager (1985-90) and Hall of Fame manager (1990-2010) for the Braves.

Lucas drafted Bob Horner with the first overall pick in 1978, and then paired him with Murphy, who struggled for a few years before becoming one of the greatest players of the 1980s.  

Murphy has fond memories of Lucas coming to the Dominican Republic to present him with a bonus the young prospect didn’t think he had earned 

"He encouraged me and he walked that tough line while being a boss in the very tough field of professional baseball," Murphy said. "But I always felt he was my friend. It's very motivating when you have somebody you feel cares about you and allows you to do your best, while being with you during your ups and downs."

Unfortunately, Lucas didn’t get to see the fruits of his labor lead to Murphy capturing consecutive MVP Awards (1982 and ‘83). 

Lucas watched Phil Niekro earn his 200th career win from his Atlanta home on May 1, 1979 and called him to offer congratulations. He suffered a massive brain hemorrhage that same night and died four days later.