Before Saturday’s game, the Braves welcomed a surprise special guest into their clubhouse: Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox, who is one of the most accomplished skippers in Major League Baseball history.
Cox, 83, had a cool reaction when Chris Sale went up and introduced himself. He saw Austin Riley and made a comment about picking the baseball. He spotted Ozzie Albies and said his name when he saw him. Then Cox and the Braves took a team picture.
“Everybody loved seeing him,” Braves manager Brian Snitker said. “Holy cow. That was pretty special.”
After the third inning, public address announcer Kevin Kraus announced that the Braves had a special guest in attendance for this game against the Phillies. In introducing this person, Kraus mentioned that he was a World Series champion and four-time Manager of the Year.
At that moment, some fans began realizing who was among them – even before the Braves showed him on the big screen.
Bobby Cox.
He’s here.
When the Braves put Cox on the big board, the sellout crowd of 41,006 roared. Cox saluted them. From the dugout, Snitker clapped.
“I always watched him on TV when I was a little kid, and then playing spring training, watching him,” said Albies, who’d previously met Cox. “It’s always great and he means a lot to this organization.”
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
This was one of Cox’s first trips to Truist Park for a game since he suffered a stroke in 2019. In 2020, he was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. He’s been out of the public eye for years.
Cox, who was in a wheelchair in a suite, was with his wife, Pam. He stood up to wave to the crowd when the Braves showed him on the big screen. And before the game, Snitker said, Cox had “a few more words” than expected. Snitker could tell Cox recognized the players.
On Saturday, Cox told Albies it was good to see him. “Keep playing hard,” Albies said Cox told him. And Marcell Ozuna on Saturday met Cox for the first time.
But he knew all about the legendary skipper.
“A lot of World Series and a lot of (winning) he’s done in this organization,” Ozuna said. “He’s one of those special guys in the organization. I feel happy for him that he is still alive and that he can recognize everyone.”
Of Cox’s impact, Albies said: “He set a lot of (standards) here, and it’s always play the game hard and respect it.”
Cox managed for 29 seasons – 25 with the Braves, four with the Blue Jays. In total, he had a record of 2,504-2,001. He has the fourth-most wins of any manager in history. He took the Braves to five World Series, and won one. He helmed the Braves during a run of 14 consecutive division titles.
Snitker said he hopes Cox can attend more games in the future.
“Yeah. I hope it went well, and I think it did,” Snitker said. “I know his family, they loaded him up and brought him out here. The security and all was really good here helping him up.
“So yeah, I hope he can, because there’s nowhere he’d rather be than the ballpark, that’s for sure.”
With Cox watching, the Braves defeated the Phillies, 5-1. They pitched well. They hit timely home runs.
They were happy to win in front of Cox.
“It felt great,” Albies said. “I’m happy we got a win and Bobby was there to watch it.”
From 2010: Braves pay tribute to retiring Bobby Cox during Phillies homestand
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