AFTER 29 years of managing baseball, Bobby Cox has decided to call it quits. He will go down in history as one of the best managers in the history of baseball. Leading 16 teams that he managed to the playoffs, Cox left a legacy of greatness on the game of baseball.
It truly was his life, Cox first suited up for the New York Yankees the same day that Mickey Mantle played his last game. For 50 years, this has been Cox’s life, and now it’s over. The San Francisco Giants knocked the Braves out of the playoffs after a hard fought series, where each game was decided by just one run. In the midst of their victory celebration, the Giants recognized the magnitude of what just happened; they stopped their cheers, tipped their caps and watched as a baseball legend walked off the field for the last time in his career.
After the loss, Cox’s emotions got the best of him as hear tearfully addressed his team in the locker room. Chipper Jones, who has never played for any other manager, said that he had never seen Cox so emotional. As he addressed the team, and thanked them for everything that they had done for him this season, he left the locker room on multiple occasions, to gather his thoughts before speaking. Bobby Cox was really leaving.
Cox has won division titles, managed All-Star teams, won World Series Championships, but this was truly his finest hour; the first time he could look back on his career and reflect on everything he had done.
In today’s day and age, professional sports have become such a business that a permanent fixture in a locker room has become a rarity. Jerry Sloan has been with the Utah Jazz for over 20 years, Tony LaRussa has been with the St. Louis Cardinals for 15 years, and a few other coaches have had extended tenures with their teams, but rarely does it happen anymore. The money and business aspect of sports have changed the game from what it was generations ago. Stadiums are named after sponsors, bringing in more money for the organization. Coaches are fired in hopes that the next coach will be the key to turning around a season for a club. Coaches leave teams just like player free agents do, searching for a championship ring or a higher paying contract. Bobby Cox stayed, the Atlanta Braves kept him.
After turning around the Braves organization when he took over for the second time, Cox led the Braves to 15 playoff appearances. Although they only won one World Series title, the Braves were in the playoffs year in and year out. He revitalized baseball fever in Atlanta.
Teams across the league have been showing their love and appreciation for Bobby Cox throughout the entire year. As he’s been on his ‘farewell tour’ this season, he’s received awards, tokens of memory, fishing trips and cruises from many different teams. Cox is appreciative, although baseball always came first with him. As he walks away, the Atlanta Braves owe him one more thing. The Braves need to give Cox something that he can look at and cherish forever. Every time an Atlanta Braves player steps into Turner Field, they can see the championship flags hanging from the rafters and hang their hats on those championships. They have Bobby to thank for that. The Braves need to give Bobby something that he can hang his hat on, Turner Stadium should be renamed to Bobby Cox field.
Bobby never wanted to leave the game of baseball, and after all the things he did for this game, it will never leave him. The least that the Atlanta Braves organization can do to show their full appreciation and gratitude for Coach Cox is to give him the name of the field, and allow him to see his legacy every time he sees the stadium.
Thanks for a great 50 years Bobby. Baseball will miss you as it tries to find someone that can fill your giant shoes.
-Jeff Hansen
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