Atlanta's Cox pays tribute to division dynasty

Posted July 27, 2014 1:01 am

By Barry Rozner

National Baseball Hall of Fame inductees Bobby Cox, left, and Tom Glavine talk during an induction ceremony at the Clark Sports Center on Sunday. Associated Press

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - There were all sorts of different emotions Sunday for the six Hall of Fame inductees.

But there was little doubt about who was happiest with the honor after the speeches were given and the toughest part of the weekend was over.

The third member of the Atlanta connection, manager Bobby Cox, was never in a better mood than when he finished his work Sunday.

"We got on the bus this morning and Tom Seaver says, 'Boys, don't forget your wife's name. Seriously, practice it right now.' Best advice I've heard in years," Cox said. "I figured he's been here and must know what he's talking about. So I practiced."

Cox was smiling and jovial at the post-induction news conference, sitting alongside Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine, who are now his colleagues instead of his players.

"What a great honor it is for me to be here with these guys," Cox said. "The odds of this happening to all three of us at the same time, I think you have a better chance hitting the lottery.

"I think John Smoltz will be here soon, too, and I look forward to coming back for that and not having to give a speech."

The three men have had quite the weekend reliving their Atlanta days, and took every opportunity Sunday to poke fun at each other.

"I was looking over my shoulder, worried that Bobby was coming to get me," Glavine said of his speech.

"I did look out at the bullpen a couple times," Maddux said.

"They looked pretty strong. I was going to let them go at least another 12 or 13 minutes," Cox answered. "I was just trying not to get thrown out."

While Frank Thomas, Joe Torre and Tony La Russa were essentially going at it alone, it was clear that the Atlanta group was very much together.

"I don't know how any manager could have been more fortunate than me," Cox said. "I had great ownership, a great GM and players like these two guys next to me.

"We had a lot of great players and to get here where I am, you must have had great rosters. We had that. I'm grateful for all of it."

brozner@dailyherald.com

•Listen to Barry Rozner from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays on the Score's "Hit and Run" show at WSCR 670-AM.

Merry, left, and her husband Mike Quarles, of Woodstock, Ga., react to a comment by former Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox as they watched the broadcast of the Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony, before the Braves' game against the San Diego Padres at Turner Field on Sunday afternoon, July 27, 2014, in Atlanta. Three former Braves--manager Bobby Cox and pitchers Greg Maddux and Tom Glavine--were inducted into the hall on Sunday. Associated Press

National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Bobby Cox speaks during an induction ceremony at the Clark Sports Center on Sunday, July 27, 2014, in Cooperstown, N.Y. Associated Press

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