Cox to retire

The Braves have announced Bobby Cox will retire following the 2010 season after the manager and the team agreed to a one year contract extension. Cox will serve as a consultant for an additional five years.

Since returning to manage the Braves in 1990, Cox has lead his team to 14 consecutive division titles, five pennants and one World Series victory in 1995. The Braves last playoff appearance was in 2005.

I love that while I was searching for a photo to post of Bobby, about 85% of the photos featured Cox arguing with an umpire and/or being thrown out of a game. 10% showed him smiling in the dugout and the other 5% had him interacting with current and former players. I know those are some of the things I will remember most. Many others will remember his Major League leading penchant for being thrown out as P.T. Barnumesque, but for me it is just another example of how he always puts his players first. I remember a game a few years ago where Chipper Jones started arguing with the homeplate umpire about balls and strikes and Bobby came running out of the dugout and wound up being thrown out of the game. A few innings later, Chipper drove in the game winning run which would not have been possible had he been the one who got thrown out of the game.

It will be sad to see him go, but it may also be time for a new era in Atlanta.
(Photo: AP; source)