Legendary Braves manager Bobby Cox dies at 84

One of MLB’s most accomplished managers has passed away. Atlanta Braves legend Bobby Cox died at the age of 84, the team announced on Saturday.

The 2014 Naismith Baseball Hall of Fame inductee guided the club to the 1995 World Series championship, five total National League pennants and 14 consecutive divisional titles. His 2,504 career managerial wins ranks fourth all-time, and he also owns the unique record for most ejections (162). The Braves issued a statement following the news.

“We are overcome with emotion on the passing of Bobby Cox, our treasured skipper,” it reads. “Bobby was the best manager to ever wear a Braves uniform… His Braves managerial legacy will never be matched. Bobby was a favorite among all in the baseball community, especially those who played for him. His wealth of knowledge on player development and the intricacies of managing the game were rewarded with the sport’s ultimate prize in 2014.

“And while Bobby’s passion for the game was unparalleled, his love of baseball was exceeded only by his love for his family. It is with the heaviest hearts that we send our sincerest condolences to his beloved wife, Pam, and their loving children and grandchildren.”

Bobby Cox managed the Braves through their most prosperous era

Cox helped Atlanta become an NL powerhouse. Some people focus on the Braves’ lack of championships, arguing that the franchise should have won at least another World Series, but consistent excellence is extremely difficult to attain in this highly temperamental sport. The four-time Manager of the Year led the franchise through its most dominant stretch, as the team won 100-plus games six times from 1993-2003.

It is no wonder why he spent a quarter century manning Atlanta’s dugout, but the part of Cox’s illustrious career that often gets overlooked is the time he spent in between his two stints as Braves skipper. When the club fired him after the strike-shortened 1981 season, Bobby Cox headed to the American League to helm the fairly new Toronto Blue Jays.

He flourished in The Great White North and launched the squad into relevance. Under his direction, the Jays won a franchise-record 99 games (still stands) and came within one victory of advancing to the 1985 World Series. Cox ultimately lost to Toronto while leading the Braves in the 1992 Fall Classic, but he helped establish the winning culture that arguably paved the way for its back-to-back titles.

Cox’s story cannot be completely told without mentioning his 1995 arrest for simple assault. He was released on bail, and together with his wife at a press conference, they denied that physical violence took place.

Fans may have differing opinions on the man, but his contributions to the Atlanta Braves are immortalized with a bronze statue in front of Truist Park. The team will surely have something planned when it returns home next week.

We send our prayers to the Cox family during this difficult time.

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