Bobby Cox built, molded Atlanta Braves over 40 years as GM, manager

Benedictine's Omari Burse tags North Oconee's Luke Burnett after he was caught in a run down during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Benedictine pitcher Colvin Proto works from the mound during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series against North Oconee on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

North Oconee's Wyatt Bull pitches during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

North Oconee's Maddox Brice connects with the ball during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series at Benedictine on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Benedictine's Colvin Proto pitches during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series against North Oconee on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

North Oconee's Connor O'Mara attempts to tag Benedictine's Ben Kleinpeter as he slides into second during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

North Oconee's JT Doster lays down a bunt during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series at Benedictine on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Benedictine's Omari Burse connects with a hit against North Oconee during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Benedictine's Noah Harris dives back to first during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series against North Oconee on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

North Oconee's Wyatt Bull pitches during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series at Benedictine on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

North Oconee's JT Doster watches as Luke Burnett misses a catch in the outfield during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series at Benedictine on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Benedictine's Jadon Muller dives for the ball during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series against North Oconee on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

North Oconee's Maddox Brice celebrates at second base during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series at Benedictine on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Benedictine students celebrate as Jadon Muller rounds the bases with a homerun during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series against North Oconee on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Benedictine's Jadon Muller celebrates with teammates after hitting a homerun during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series against North Oconee on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

North Oconee catcher Landyn Dykes takes Benedictine's Elliott Zeigler out at home plate during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Benedictine's Omari Burse tags out North Oconee's Camron Rollins during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Benedictine students cheer from the outfield during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series against North Oconee on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Benedictine's Kai Hernandez-Gambill gets some air as he runs toward second during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Benedictine's Kai Hernandez-Gambill races toward second as North Oconee's Connor O'Mara looks for the throw during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

North Oconee's Conor O'Mara is safe at second as Benedictine's Noah Harris looks on during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

North Oconee's Landyn Dykes celebrates as he rounds the bases with a homerun during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series at Benedictine on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Benedictine students celebrate during game 2 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Benedictine's Kai Hernandez-Gambill reacts after striking out during game 2 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Benedictine pitcher Mason O'Neil works from the mound during game 2 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

North Oconee pitcher Davis Robinson works from the mound during game 2 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

Benedictine's Ben Kleinpeter reacts after being called out at second during game 2 of the State AAAA semifinal series against North Oconee on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

North Oconee pitcher Davis Robinson celebrates with teammates during game 2 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

North Oconee pitcher Patrick Hassan works to get the final out during game 2 of the State AAAA semifinal series at Benedictine on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

North Oconee pitcher Patrick Hassan reacts after the final out during game 2 of the State AAAA semifinal series at Benedictine on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

North Oconee players tip their hats to their fans after sweeping Benedictine in the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

Benedictine's Omari Burse tags North Oconee's Luke Burnett after he was caught in a run down during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

Benedictine's Omari Burse tags North Oconee's Luke Burnett after he was caught in a run down during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

Benedictine pitcher Colvin Proto works from the mound during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series against North Oconee on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

North Oconee's Wyatt Bull pitches during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

North Oconee's Maddox Brice connects with the ball during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series at Benedictine on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

Benedictine's Colvin Proto pitches during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series against North Oconee on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

North Oconee's Connor O'Mara attempts to tag Benedictine's Ben Kleinpeter as he slides into second during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

North Oconee's JT Doster lays down a bunt during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series at Benedictine on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine baseball team ends season in state semifinal loss to North Oconee

Benedictine's Omari Burse connects with a hit against North Oconee during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

Benedictine's Noah Harris dives back to first during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series against North Oconee on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

North Oconee's Wyatt Bull pitches during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series at Benedictine on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

North Oconee's JT Doster watches as Luke Burnett misses a catch in the outfield during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series at Benedictine on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

Benedictine's Jadon Muller dives for the ball during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series against North Oconee on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

North Oconee's Maddox Brice celebrates at second base during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series at Benedictine on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

Benedictine students celebrate as Jadon Muller rounds the bases with a homerun during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series against North Oconee on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine baseball team ends season in state semifinal loss to North Oconee

Benedictine's Jadon Muller celebrates with teammates after hitting a homerun during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series against North Oconee on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

North Oconee catcher Landyn Dykes takes Benedictine's Elliott Zeigler out at home plate during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

Benedictine's Omari Burse tags out North Oconee's Camron Rollins during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

Benedictine students cheer from the outfield during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series against North Oconee on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

Benedictine's Kai Hernandez-Gambill gets some air as he runs toward second during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

Benedictine's Kai Hernandez-Gambill races toward second as North Oconee's Connor O'Mara looks for the throw during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

North Oconee's Conor O'Mara is safe at second as Benedictine's Noah Harris looks on during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine baseball team ends season in state semifinal loss to North Oconee

North Oconee's Landyn Dykes celebrates as he rounds the bases with a homerun during game 1 of the State AAAA semifinal series at Benedictine on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

Benedictine students celebrate during game 2 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

Benedictine's Kai Hernandez-Gambill reacts after striking out during game 2 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

Benedictine pitcher Mason O'Neil works from the mound during game 2 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

North Oconee pitcher Davis Robinson works from the mound during game 2 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

Benedictine's Ben Kleinpeter reacts after being called out at second during game 2 of the State AAAA semifinal series against North Oconee on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

North Oconee pitcher Davis Robinson celebrates with teammates during game 2 of the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

North Oconee pitcher Patrick Hassan works to get the final out during game 2 of the State AAAA semifinal series at Benedictine on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

North Oconee pitcher Patrick Hassan reacts after the final out during game 2 of the State AAAA semifinal series at Benedictine on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

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Benedictine’s run ends with semifinal sweep by North Oconee

North Oconee players tip their hats to their fans after sweeping Benedictine in the State AAAA semifinal series on Thursday, May 14, 2026.

A little over 40 years ago, Bobby Cox was hired by the Atlanta Braves. It was the second time that had happened. But this time, it was as a general manager. He took off his cleats and uniform to wear a coat and tie (well maybe more like a polo shirt) as an executive.

The Braves had originally hired him in 1977, as a 36-year-old first-time MLB manager. They then fired him four years later, unhappy by continued losing and wanting to try someone else.

Team owner Ted Turner, a true team owner the likes of we’ll never see again, didn’t want to fire Cox. In fact, at the press conference announcing Cox’s firing, Turner was asked, with Cox sitting by his side, what qualities he was looking for in hiring a new skipper for his Braves.

“Well, someone just like Bobby,” quipped Turner, in only a way he could say things with his thick southern drawl.

When things went south in 1985, after Turner had fired the man after the 1984 season who had replaced Cox, some guy named Joe Torre, who went on to do better things years later, the so-called “Mouth of the South” knew whom he needed to call. Turner was preoccupied chasing CBS and movie studios he could purchase, so he needed a baseball man to fix the Braves.

Turner needed Bobby Cox, and that’s who he called. Itching to get back south to be with his young family, Cox answered that call. And after four years managing Toronto, Cox went back to Atlanta to rebuild the Braves.

The unbelievable part of this story is the timing. Cox was managing the Blue Jays in the American League playoffs, so Turner had to wait. Worried he’d get shut out of getting a good manager if Toronto had won the World Series and then persuaded Cox to stay, Turner almost immediately hired former Pirates manager Chuck Tanner. So, a few days after Toronto was eliminated, and a week have he had hired Tanner, Turner got Cox to be his general manager.

And with Turner out of the way, and with the help of newly appointed team president Stan Kasten, who was doing a great job running Turner’s Atlanta Hawks, and scouting director Paul Snyder, Cox started a five-year plan to get the Braves on track.

For the first 20 years of the franchise being in Atlanta, it was all about offense. Sluggers like Hank Aaron, Dale Murphy and Bob Horner had defined the teams from 1966-1985, as most believed pitching would never work in a stadium called, “The Launching Pad.” But Cox made a change: the Braves were going to go with pitching, be damned what people thought would work in their home park. That hadn’t worked, either. The Braves hadn’t won. So, the switch was made.

The Braves, with Cox as GM, started drafting pitchers. With almost every trade made, a pitcher was acquired in return. More scouts were hired. Better pitching coaches were brought in to make those on the mound a priority.

The late 1980s Braves were unsuccessful on the field, as they averaged 64.6 wins per season while Cox was the general manager. But the groundwork was built, and after Cox returned back to the dugout in 1990, and then a new GM (John Schuerholz) was hired, things changed.

Players brought in under Cox’s leadership as general manager went from unproven rookies to stars. The pitching became the signature of the Braves, and what started in 1991 was a run of successful likely unparalleled in the sport. The Braves would go on to win 14 straight division titles, along with five National League pennants and a World Series in 1995.

As much as Cox gets credit for managing those seasons (and he’s in Cooperstown because of that success), the real appreciation should be for what he did as the man in charge of rebuilding the Atlanta franchise. His hiring as GM was the most consequential decision in the history of Georgia sports. It changed a perennial losing franchise into a standard-bearer that is still in place decades later. His decisions were the difference.

Can you imagine if Turner had gotten his way initially and hired Cox as manager? Maybe someone else who had been brought in a general manager would have never had Turner’s trust to run the organization as they saw fit. It really all worked out perfectly, even if it wasn’t necessarily according to Turner’s original script.

The fact that Turner and Cox died three days apart last week is, well, unbelievable. That two people so important to the history of the Atlanta Braves went that closely together was ironic and almost appropriate. They were both in their 80s, both had been in poor health for a long time. But the ability to tell their stories and how they are woven into the fabric of the Atlanta Braves logo made it all fit together.

Truth be told, Cox was probably around six years longer than he was supposed to be after suffering a major stroke in April 2019. People never realized how difficult life was for Cox after the stroke, but he was a tough ole bird who just wanted to hang around as long as possible.

The extra time gave his many friends in baseball time to visit and reminisce, and they came one by one. The respect and love his players had for him is unmatched. Fans may remember his 162 ejections more than anything, but to his players, Cox’s arguments with the umpires were only a representation of how a manager should take up for his players.

The first time I saw that was in 1979. I was only nine years old, watching the Braves on The SuperStation, the station Turner made famous. New York Mets pitcher Craig Swan hit Braves pitcher Phil Niekro in the head, and probably 15 people had to physically restrain Cox from killing Swan. Niekro was about the only pitcher the Braves had in those days, and Cox just lost it thinking the Mets were trying to hurt him. Of all the Cox ejections, it’s a shame there is no video of that one, as it would have taken the cake.

Bobby Cox in 2016.

Cox loved baseball. He would get to the stadium on game days before anyone else. There were times when Cox would just sit in his office, feet up on the table, cleats on, chewing on a cigar, just talking baseball. He held court better than Judge Judy, telling stories and talking about the game he loved so much.

Cox wasn’t perfect. There was reason to say he was too loyal to some of his players, and sure, we could probably point to situations where we would have done something different in games (like with any other manager). But there is no way any manager was more respected for how he managed a team than Bobby Cox.

It’s funny, really, that the head coach in baseball is called a manager. But that’s what they do – manage. They manage the game and manage the clubhouse. Most of the coaching part is in the barn once a player gets to the Majors, but they have to be managed to survive the emotional rigors of a game that can chew you up and spit you out.

I remember once being in the Atlanta clubhouse after a game in spring training. Pitcher Tyler Yates had a bad outing, and he sat at his locker rather despondent. Cox walked by seeing Yates glum. I heard Cox tell Yates that the weather was to blame for his struggles that day. It was one of those windy March days at Disney, and Cox wanted to make sure Yates knew his one bad outing was not going to be the determining factor on whether he made the roster or not.

The relief on Yates’ face told the story. He knew his manager had his back, like Cox had done with so many of his players through the years.

To list the things Cox did to help the Braves would take forever, but let’s state a few. When he was GM in the late-1980s, some of his young players struggled. Tom Glavine was 7-17 in his first full season, but Cox kept running Glavine out there. It was obvious Glavine had talent, but he needed time to develop it and not be rushed.

Other teams saw that talent and wanted Glavine. The Red Sox, the team Glavine grew up rooting for in Massachusetts, constantly tried to trade for him. Boston and Atlanta had endless trade talks, and while the Red Sox would dangle players like Wade Boggs and Mike Greenwell to try and get Glavine, Cox never wavered. Who knows what would have happened to the Braves in 1991 if Glavine had been traded in 1989?

Ron Gant is someone that comes to mind. He first came up as a 22-year-old second baseman in 1987. Two years later, Gant struggled in the field and at the plate. Instead of giving up on him, Cox sent Gant to Low-A Sumter and told him to play the outfield. Gant was better there, and not worrying about his defense allowed him to get on track offensively. The next season, back in Atlanta, Gant hit 32 home runs and stole 33 bases. He went on to have a great MLB career.

John Smoltz was 2-11 in the first half of the 1991 season. There were rumors Schuerholz was even going to trade Smoltz at the All-Star Break, but Cox convinced him to stick with Smoltz. Well, that was the right call. Smoltz went 12-2 after the Break and would be a postseason hero for the Braves pitching the seventh game of the World Series later that year. Smoltz turned out to be pretty good.

Players would come to the Braves with shaky reputations, hard to get along with, not wanting to be coached. Gary Sheffield had that rep when he joined the Braves in 2002, and many wondered if he would get along with Cox. Well, Sheffield has stated he loved his time with Cox, mainly because of the respect Cox had for him and the knowledge that Cox always had his back.

We heard Cox shout his encouragement from the dugout for years, his terms of endearment. He was the king of nicknames, almost like he was a fan on the front row. “Come on Chip” (for Chipper Jones) or “Let’s go Smoltzie” (for John Smoltz) or “Go get ‘em Fookie” (for Rafael Furcal). Every player who ever wore an Atlanta uniform while Cox was manager knew he was right there pulling for them more than anyone else.

About 20 years ago, I was at Shea Stadium covering the Braves and was lingering in the dugout with some players after batting practice. It started getting uncomfortably close to game time, so I was trying to get back to the press box. Then Cox comes out of the clubhouse, and I thought he might be upset that I was standing there with a player probably 15 minutes before first pitch.

“Hey Shanksie,” he instead barked out, simply acting like he was happy to see me.

“Hey Skipper,” I answered back in shock (and relief).

He had taken my name and given me a nickname. Me, a reporter, not one of his players. I could have died right there.

Cox’s fingerprints on the Braves are still seen to this day. Eight years ago, when manager Brian Snitker was looking for a bench coach, he had a long list of names. Cox recommended Weiss, who had played for him in the late-1990s. Snitker, who revered Cox, hired Weiss, and of course, last November Weiss replaced Snitker as Braves manager. Weiss wouldn’t have been there if not for Cox, and it seems like that’s worked out pretty well so far.

No one represented what Braves baseball was more than Bobby. He was the Braves way, with every fabric of the organization still ingrained with his DNA. He respected the game, respected the players, and no one was more respected in return than Cox. This was a good man, one who gave his life to the game of baseball. It is better for it, and the contributions Cox made to the Atlanta Braves, both on and off the field, should never be forgotten.

Listen to The Bill Shanks Show weekdays at 3:00 pm ET on 104.3 FM in Savannah and online at TheSuperStations.com. Email Bill at TheBillShanksShow@yahoo.com.

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Bobby Cox had huge impact on Atlanta Braves baseball still felt today