During his professional playing days, Deion Sanders was a two-sport athlete, focusing on both football and baseball. He played for the Atlanta Braves from 1991 to 1994 under legendary manager Bobby Fox.
However, on Saturday, the MLB world lost the legendary coach. Cox passed away at the age of 84. The team released a statement about the tragic loss while also highlighting his achievements in the sport.
Deion Sanders was also devastated by the death of his former baseball manager. He shared a heartwarming post for Bobby Cox on social media.
“A good man, a good manager, a more than fair person, A leader and I respected the heck out of him. God bless the family, friends & loved ones of Bobby Cox. A legend,” Coach Prime wrote.
After retiring from the game, Bobby Cox began his managerial career in the Yankees’ farm system in 1971. His first stint with the Atlanta Braves lasted from 1978 to 1981, replacing Dave Bristol as the team’s manager.
In 1982, the Toronto Blue Jays hired him for four seasons. Cox later returned for his second stint with the Braves in 1985 and was named the field manager in 1990. Deion Sanders played three full seasons with the team before going on to play for the Cincinnati Reds and the San Francisco Giants.
Bobby Cox won one World Series Championship with the Braves. He also had 15 division titles and 2,504 regular-season victories under his belt. Cox was honored as Manager of the Year four times during his career.
Deion Sanders is not the only one to honor Bobby Cox’s legacy
Current Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss also had high praise for Bobby Cox’s contribution to the sport.
“What an honor to have been a part of his legacy, really,” Weiss said as per ESPN. “He was one of the greatest leaders I’d been around. He was the best I’d ever been around at creating loyalty amongst the group.
“It was the way he treated people. The way he encouraged guys. Bobby always made you feel like you were playing better than you actually were.”
Three-time World Series Champion Freddie Freeman also highlighted Cox’s impact on his life and career. He joined the Braves during the legendary manager’s last stint with the team.
“You do things a little different over there, and the Braves’ way, and that’s what I was taught,” Freeman said. “There’s still things that I do. … Bobby’s still in me.”
Cox was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.
Read More: “Get Off Your A**”: Deion Sanders Ordered by Colorado Alum to Adopt Major Recruiting Change
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