Bobby Cox retires after sixteenth trip to MLB playoffs ends
Bobby Cox ended a storied career last night in Atlanta with a 3-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants. After the game, Cox stepped out of the bullpen to tip his cap to the 44,532 fans chanting his name.
"It couldn't have been a better series, only if we had won," said Cox, whose Braves were eliminated 3-1 in the National League Divisional Series (NLDS).
In his career, Cox was a part of two World Series winning teams. He was the first base coach of the 1977 World Champion New York Yankees, and he managed the Atlanta Braves to a World Series victory in 1995.
Cox also won American League Manager of the Year in 1985, and National League Manager of the year in 1991, 2004, and 2005. He also holds the all-time record for ejections with 158.
He began his career as a manager with the Braves in 1978, the team finished in last place for Cox’s first two years at the helm. The following year the Braves finished with a winning record, but Cox was fired by Ted Turner the year after that.
Cox moved on to manage the Toronto Blue Jays for four years. In his last year in Toronto he lead a team to a division title, and a spot in the post season for the first time in his career.
Up three games to one against the Kansas City Royals, the Blue Jays lost three straight to become the first team to lose an American League Championship Series (ALCS) after leading 3-1. Until 1985 the ALCS was a best of five series.
In 1986 Cox went back to Atlanta as general manager, but after poor attendance and results on the field, Cox took over as manager in 1990. Over the next fifteen seasons the Braves won fourteen division titles. Cox ended his career with fifteen division titles,
a Major League record.
Despite the 14 division titles in Atlanta and one in Toronto, Cox was only able to lead his team to the World Series four times. In 1991 the Braves lost to the Minnesota Twins in the World Series, and in 1992 they lost to Cox’s old team, the Blue Jays.
In 1995 Cox won his second World Series, and his first and only as a manager, against the Cleveland Indians. The following year Cox lost to another of his former teams, the Yankees.
At the end of the 2009 season, Cox signed a one year deal with Atlanta to manage the 2010 season, and announced that it would be his last as a manager. He also announced that following the 2010 season he would remain with the Braves organization as an advisor
for team baseball operations for five years.
In his final season, Cox led the Braves to their first Wild Card playoff berth. It was Cox’s sixteenth playoff appearance.
“I'm proud of this team,” Cox said after his final game with the Braves. “They played their hearts out and I'll miss them.”
Some are still in shock over the retirement, including Braves outfielder Matt Diaz.
"A lot of us won't believe it until spring training rolls around and somebody else is in the clubhouse," said Diaz.
When asked what he intends to do now Cox said, “I don't know. I'm going to try to come out here (to the ballpark to watch Braves games). I'm not sure yet. We still have family and guests in our house, and I'm not sure.”
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