On Nov. 22, 1977, the Braves hired Bobby Cox to manage and rebuild the young team, which included budding stars Dale Murphy and Bob Horner.
Cox was dismissed in 1981 after numerous losing seasons. After a few years as manager in Toronto, he returned to Atlanta in 1986 as general manager and took over as the clubhouse leader from 1990 to 2010 — one of the franchise's most successful periods.
During his career, Cox led Atlanta to 14 straight division titles from 1991 to 2005. He led the team to four World Series appearances, capturing the title in 1995.
In 2010, Cox announced he would retire after 25 seasons as Braves manager.
The retired icon was inducted to the Baseball Hall of Fame four years later.
"Not in my wildest dreams did I ever think this could happen," Cox said in his Hall of Fame speech. "But I'm sure glad it did."
The story below is a peek at the anticipation surrounding Cox's arrival in Atlanta. It originally appeared in The Atlanta Constitution on Nov. 21, 1977.
Cox Is Headed Atlanta's Way
By Wayne Minshew
What does your travel itinerary say for this week, Bobby Cox?
Pause.
"All I can say is I'm packed," Cox said from his Selma, Calif. home Sunday night, "and I'll catch a plane tomorrow ... for somewhere."
Somewhere in Georgia?
"Yep."
Bobby Cox does not deny he is the Braves' new manager. Nor does he confirm it either, but that is no longer the question. He is the Braves' manager. Only question is, when will the official announcement come?
"I know nothing," pleaded Cox, laughing.
It is not difficult, however, to add two and two together. If Cox catches a plane late Monday, as he said, then the announcement undoubtedly will come sometime Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the new Braves' skipper said he heard everywhere he went Sunday that Jimmy (the Greek) Snyder said on television that Cox will be Atlanta's new skipper. Which doesn't exactly qualify as a scoop, but Snyder said Billy Cox.
Laughing, Cox said, "Everybody calls me Billy. Everybody in baseball, anyway. When I was at Richmond, Luman Harris called me that all the time."
Billy Cox formerly played third base for the then-Brooklyn Dodgers.
Bobby or Billy, Cox is already looking for a home here, it was learned. At least a source close to an Atlanta real estate company said it was searching, and Cox soon will be an area resident.
The 36-year-old former infielder will become the youngest manager in the National League and the youngest in the Braves' Atlanta history.
He has six years experience in the minors and never finished under .500. His 1972 West Haven team won the Eastern League pennant, and his '76 Syracuse club won the Governor's Cup, emblematic of an International League playoff championship. He had two seconds and two thirds at Syracuse, the New York Yankees' AAA affiliate.
Cox will succeed Dave Bristol as Braves' manager. Bristol was fired Oct. 25 with a year remaining on his contract.
He will become their seventh fulltime skipper, following Bobby Bragan, Billy Hitchcock, Harris, Eddie Mathews, Clyde King and Bristol.
Besides posting records ont he sunny side of .500 as a minor league manager, Cox is credited with helping develop such present Yankees as Mickey Klutz, Dell Alston and pitcher Ron Guidry.
"I take no credit," he said. "Especially for Guidry. I happen to like him a lot. It was just a matter of convincing people he had it ... even in spring training this year."
