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Longtime Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox passed away on May 9, 2026, at the age of 84 years old. His death represents the loss of an MLB legend and is one that will be mourned by fans, players, and umpires alike.
Throughout his career, the Hall of Fame coach was the epitome of baseball success. He was named Manager of the Year four times. He won five NL pennants while posting a 2,504-2,001 all-time record.
The majority of his time was spent with the Braves, though his tenure in Atlanta was broken up by a four-year stint with the Blue Jays.
He reached the pinnacle of the sport in 1995 by leading his franchise to a World Series crown, its first in nearly four decades.
While his on-field results are evident, his sideline antics received as much or more attention. He is the MLB’s all-time leader with 162 ejections.
Bobby Cox’s most unhinged ejections.
His total is 30 more than the next closest manager. He had a history of being asked to leave early. In some cases, it was strategic, used as a motivational tactic. In others, the ejections were spontaneous.
His temper was known to all baseball viewers. His players even purposely set him up to get tossed on a few occasions. Below, we’ve rounded up a few of his most unhinged outbursts.
The final ejection
The Braves faced the Giants in the NLCS in 2010, which would be Cox’s last leading the Braves. His night ended extremely early in Game 2 of the series.
In the top of the second frame, San Francisco shortstop made a diving stop to throw out an Atlanta hitter. The throw beat the runner. Cox believed the first baseman’s foot came off the bag.
He might’ve been right.
This, of course, was well before the introduction of review. Cox could not challenge. He could only voice displeasure with the call to the umpire.
The manager was tossed for arguing the ruling. It was the last of his 162 ejections, a record that’s unlikely to be broken.
Bobby Cox’s record-setting ejection
Cox’s 162 ejections stand as the current all-time record. He broke the previous mark, however, with No. 132. That record-setting canning came in 2014 during an August matchup with the Giants.
His argument came on a called third strike during a Chipper Jones at-bat. After seeing his team member’s disgusted response to the ruling, he gave his own opinion from the dugout.
The home plate umpire then proceeded to toss Cox, who entered the playing field to further berate the blue. His night ended early, but it also etched his name in MLB history.
1996 World Series
The Braves won the World Series in 1995. They made it back to the championship round the following season.
This time, the cards wouldn’t fall Atlanta’s way. They fell four games to two to the New York Yankees. Cox was unable to make it through Game 6.
With the Braves trailing 3-1, Marquise Grissom attempted to ignite a spark. He raced towards second base on a ball in the dirt. Catcher Joe Girardi gunned him down to remove the threat.
Grissom was ruled out. It was an awful call. Cox leapt out of the dugout to voice his displeasure with his team’s season on the line. It would not change the outcome.
The out would prove potentially costly as the Braves lost by a run, ending the World Series pursuit.
1992 World Series
No stranger to World Series ejections, he landed his first in the 1992 season. That canning took place with Atlanta facing the Blue Jays, whom Cox had coached seven years prior.
The manager was forced to exit Game 3 early after arguing a double play in the top of the ninth. Jeff Blauser struck out on a check swing while a baserunner was subsequently thrown out trying to steal second base.
That play prevented Atlanta from sparking a rally to take the lead in a tie game. Cox disagreed with the call at second. In this case, he was wrong. Both calls were made correctly by the umpiring crew. It did not stop him from going bonkers.
Cox was asked to leave the field with one out remaining in the top of the ninth. He’d miss the Blue Jays walk it off in the bottom half of the frame.
He remains the only manager to be tossed multiple times in the World Series.
Bobby Cox explodes in 1996
During a regular season matchup with the Marlins in 1996, Cox displayed one of his fieriest reactions in dismay of the home plate umpire.
He had to be forcibly restrained by his coaching staff after getting face to face with the blue. He got his money’s worth.
That explosion was the result of a called ball on a Greg Maddux delivery. The ball was clearly outside, though the broadcast crew alluded to tensions that had been building throughout the series.
Atlanta had lost the first two games of the set. They were again trailing in Game 3. Cox would be forced to watch a four-run comeback from the clubhouse. His ejection might’ve been the spark the Braves needed.
Lip readers beware…
Cox was tossed a total of five times in the 1996 season, a far cry from his career-high of 11 set in 2001. While those ejections were relatively minimal in terms of the amount, they were superior in pure emotion.
In a September matchup with the Rockies, Cox again had to be separated with officials while directing his fury towards an umpire. In this case, the second base blue was the recipient of a verbal lashing.
The ejection came amid a lengthy losing streak. The Braves had lost eight of their previous 10 games while riding a four-game skid. They found themselves down 12-8 in what would be a 16-8 defeat.
Cox’s frustration was evident. It was likely somewhat strategic given the poor results that had preceded. It seemed to work. Atlanta won eight of its next 11 games before making a run to the World Series the following month.
Face to face confrontation
Cox was canned in a regular season matchup with the rival Mets during the 1990 campaign. The manager was absolutely heated. He was hat to hat with the home plate umpire after a questionable interference call.
The confrontation came with Atlanta riding a four-game losing streak. The Braves had been losers of eight of their previous 10 matchups.
Ironically, the very next play resulted in a similar call following the ejection.
While it wouldn’t make a difference in the 4-2 loss, Cox’s team would respond with four straight wins in the games to follow.
Fireworks on the 4th of July
Cox’s 4th of July ejection in the 2000 regular season might be the most dramatic of his career. During a game with the Expos, he blasted the home plate umpire for his strike zone and a catcher’s infraction.
The manager was furious. He was seen pointing his finger in the official’s facemask before taking a swipe at the umpire’s arm. The visible contact, even then, was a no-no.
He was eventually separated after going back for a second (and third) helping. The tirade lasted two minutes. Cox was later suspended for five games and forced to pay a fine.
“I guess it was for arguing too hard. There was some elbowing going on from both of us,” he said after receiving punishment. It’s safe to say he got his point across.
An Honorary ejection
After retirement, Cox was honored in August of the 2011 season. He threw out the first pitch before a game between the Braves and Cubs.
After delivering that strike, he was congratulated with a standing ovation alongside handshakes from the umpiring crew. He was jokingly tossed before leaving the field.
While the canning did not count towards his 162-ejection total, it was a fitting sendoff for the Hall of Fame manager.