The first time around as the Braves manager for Bobby Cox was not pretty. From 1978-81, Cox went 266-323 and was fired during the infamous news conference he attended with owner Ted Turner, who when asked who was on his short list for manager, he looked to his former manager and said, “It would be Bobby Cox if I hadn’t just fired him. We need someone like him around here.’’
But Darrel Chaney, the team’s utility infielder during Cox’s first two seasons in Atlanta, said he always knew there was something special about the Hall of Fame manager.
“I had played for Sparky Anderson at Cincinnati, so I knew what a good manager looked like,’’ said Chaney. “I knew despite the fact we were losing games that Bobby had it. I knew he would some day have good teams. He was as good as they come with handling the lineup card, and he really fought for his players, was very loyal to his team.’’
Cox showed Chaney that loyalty at the end of the ’79 season when he knew they were going to release the veteran after the season, but put him in the lineup anyway.
“He told me they were going to let me go, but he said he wanted to get me in as many games as possible so other teams could see me,’’ Chaney said. “I always appreciated that.’’
Chaney would get spring training invites after the ’79 season from the Pirates and Mets but decided to retire. And despite 93- and 94-loss seasons under Cox, he has one memory he will always cherish.
It came in the fourth game of Cox’s managerial career in ’78, when the Braves were 0-3 and facing San Diego at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium. The Braves were down 7-6 in the bottom of the ninth with a runner on and two outs. Chaney was called on to pinch hit against Padres reliever Bob Shirley.
Chaney takes it from here: “I hit a walk-off homer and Bobby had his first win. I will never forget that, as Adrian Devine had come in to pitch (two) scoreless innings to give us a chance … a very good memory.’’
