Braves legends, former players react to the death of Bobby Cox

Among the many former Braves to acknowledge the passing of Bobby Cox, there is perhaps no player who holds a greater affinity for the iconic manager than Hall of Fame pitcher John Smoltz. The face of the Atlanta dynasty in the 1990s and early 2000s, Smoltz spent nearly all of his Hall of Fame career in Atlanta, and he became the face of a decade of dominance under Cox. The two led Atlanta to a number of playoff appearances, multiple National League pennants, and one World Series championship. Smoltz spoke on the significance of the Braves' former manager on his playing career and his.

Former Atlanta Brave and World Series-winning manager Ozzie Guillen was only with Cox in Atlanta for a short part of his playing career during the 1998 season. Then, like Cox, he eventually made the switch to management after his playing career concluded. Guillen himself would eventually go on to win a World Series championship as manager for the Chicago White Sox in 2005. After the word of Cox's passing got out, Guillen commented on what the Hall of Famer meant for the game and to the people he encountered during the game.

Braves legend Andrew Jones also sent out an emotional tweet in regard to Cox's passing. Jones had a solid run as an Atlanta Brave and mostly under Bobby Cox during the 90's dynasty years through the first few years of the 2000s. Jones developed into a feared defensive outfielder and a legitimate home run threat during the time he played for Cox. His quick tribute to his coach after his death was a very memorable one.

As tributes continued pouring in across baseball Saturday, it became clear just how much Cox meant to the game and the people around him. Beyond the championships and division titles, former players described Cox as a mentor and father figure who helped shape their careers both on and off the field. Judging by the emotional reactions throughout the day, his impact stretched far beyond baseball.