This year, the Atlanta Braves have a huge chunk going into the 2014 Hall of Fame. Joe Torre, Hall of Famer, caught for the Braves for eight years. He managed the Braves for 2 years. Bobby Cox, Hall of Famer, is probably one of the greatest managers in history. He managed the Braves for 4 years, was fired, then managed from 1989 to 2010, including their only World Series victory. Tony La Russa also became immortal today.
Wow!
“…La Russa – unanimously elected by the sixteen member Veteran’s Committee — ranks third all-time in wins among managers, having compiled a 2,728-2,365 record in 33 seasons. He won three World Series: in 1989 with the Oakland Athletics and 2006 and 2011 with the St. Louis Cardinals. He won six pennants overall, three each with Oakland and St. Louis and spent eight years managing the Chicago White Sox as well.
Cox — also voted in unanimously — is right on La Russa’s historic heels, ranking fourth all-time in wins among managers, compiling a 2,504-2,001 record in 29 seasons with the Braves and Blue Jays. A World Series winner in 1995, he won five National League pennants in 25 years with the Braves and won a lot of games in four years as Toronto’s manager. His signature accomplishment, however, is one of year-in-year-out excellence, leading the Braves to 14 division titles between 1991 and 2005.
Joe Torre was also unanimously elected. His Hall of Fame resume comes from both his playing and his managing exploits. The National League MVP in 1971, Torre was one of the more underrated players from the sixties and seventies. Of course he wouldn’t be entering Cooperstown if it weren’t for his years as a manager, in which he won four World Series titles and six pennants — all with the Yankees — in 29 seasons. Overall he was 2,326-1,997 record managing the Mets, Braves, Cardinals, Yankees and Dodgers….”
I don’t know why I was so nervous about Bobby Cox getting in, considering the fact that he has the all time record for ejections from a Major League game with 158. He also ranks #4 on the all time Managerial Wins list.
Now, cross your fingers for Tom Glavin and Greg Maddox. They’re next. This is a Braves year!
