Remembering Bobby Cox, iconic manager of the Atlanta Braves

25 Feb 2000: Manager Bobby Cox #6 of the Atlanta Braves poses for a studio portrait during Spring Training Photo Day in Kissimmee, Florida. Mandatory Credit: Andy Lyons /Allsport | Getty Images Earlier this afternoon, the Atlanta Braves announced the passing of Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox. He was 84.

In six decades in the organization, Cox spent two separate stints as Braves manager; served as the team’s general manager; and was a player with the organization’s minor leagues prior to the beginning of his coaching career. Cox’s death comes the same week as the passing of former Braves owner Ted Turner, who twice hired Cox to leadership roles in the organization. Cox was born in Oklahoma in 1941 and moved with his family to California three years later.

He began his playing career in 1960 after signing with the Dodgers organization out of high school. After making it to Double-A with the Dodgers, he spent the 1965 season in Triple-A with the Cubs organization and split 1966 between the Cubs and Braves Triple-A ranks, playing for Austin in the Braves organization. In 1967, the Braves affiliate moved to Richmond, and he had a productive season with a .

849 OPS. The New York Yankees gave Cox an opportunity at the MLB-level in 1968 and he spent that and the 1969 season in the big leagues before his playing career wrapped up with parts of two seasons in the minors in 1971. Primarily a third baseman, Cox ended his big league career with 220 games played with nine home runs.