Say Goodbye to Bobby Cox

Bobby Cox told the AJC, “I’d rather die with the uni on, but I’m not going to do that.”




The Braves manager has been in a major league uniform since 1968, and joined the Dodgers farm team in 1960, according to the AJC (Hummer, Steve. A Season of ‘lasts.’ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Sunday, Feb 28, 2010). Cox has announced that this will be his last year as manager of the Braves.

At the age of 69, Bobby Cox has been in a baseball uniform longer than many of us have been alive. That’s incredible longevity.

The Brave’s manager’s contract was up at the end of last season, but he opted for a one year extension. Those of us who have seen Bobby Cox endure the long, lonely losing streaks and take the Braves to the World Championship would like to see him continue to extend that contract year to year.

The reality is that Bobby Cox has not only earned a break, but that despite his love of the game he deserves time off. He has said as much, himself.

Bobby Cox has also admitted that if he didn’t go public with his plans to retire that he probably would go season to season. He has a case of “the can’t help its” when it comes to Braves baseball.

One of the most difficult things about this season will be that Bobby Cox will constantly be reminded of his retirement. He is already being questioned relentlessly by reporters and, as in this post; it is a topic of much discussion. Bobby Cox would rather take the focus off him and put it on the game and the players. That is just the kind of baseball man he is.

Some say it will be a long season for Bobby Cox having to deal with the issue of his retirement. A little age and wisdom tells me that this season, no matter how long the Braves last into October, will be one of the shortest of Bobby Cox’s life. When we give up something we love, it always passes too quickly.

Good luck Braves. Check back for information on spring training and the Braves as the training season is underway.