Support from family, players pours in for former Braves manager Bobby Cox
ATLANTA - Support for Hall of Famer and former Atlanta Braves manager, Bobby Cox continues to pour in days after he was hospitalized.
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Sources said Cox was taken to a Cobb County hospital for a yet to be disclosed medical condition.
FOX 5 Sports Director Ken Rodriguez, learned from MLB sources Wednesday that Cox underwent surgery to remove a blood clot.
The Associated Press reported, Cox suffered a stroke on Tuesday but was able to accept visitors in his hospital room by Wednesday. The stroke reportedly affected his speech and the right side of his body.
The Atlanta Braves released a statement late Wednesday afternoon after former Braves manager Bobby Cox was hospitalized.
In a statement released to FOX 5 Atlanta, Cox's family wrote:
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“We want to thank all of you who have sent their well wishes or said a prayer. We know the power of Braves Country and we hope those prayers and positive thoughts continue as Bobby heals. You don’t know how much your support means to Bobby and to our family”
The Atlanta Braves also released their own statement about Cox:
“We know no one stronger or more determined than Bobby Cox. Our thoughts and prayers are with him as he recovers. We look forward to seeing him soon and would like to thank the baseball community for joining together to support our dear friend.”
Braves players have also been tweeting out their support for the hall-of-fame manager, with Andruw Jones calling him his "second dad."
“Hearing what happened yesterday, it kind of puts everything into perspective,” Freddie Freeman, Braves first baseman said of Cox. “You know two days ago he was here saying let’s play ball and the next day, you know, something like this can happen.”
“I was fortunate to play for Bobby the last year he was here and just to be around him and see the way he treats people and the type of person he is was something I’ll never forget,” Jonny Venters, Braves pitcher said. “He’s a great man, a great manager and like I said, 'I’m praying for him and his family.'”
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Cox managed the Braves for 24 years from 1978 to 1981 and then again 1990 to 2010, leading the team to a World Series championship in 1995.
The 77-year-old is known as a fighter, having been ejected nearly 160 times during his career leading to his holding the all-time record for MLB ejections.
During his retirement season, every MLB team the Braves played, except for the Marlins, honored him. The following year his No. 6 jersey was retired and he was inducted into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame. Two years later, he was unanimously elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Cox has continued to be active in the Braves organization on a part-time basis. He attended Monday's Home Opener and was spotted several times at Braves Spring Training at Disney’s ESPN Wide World of Sports in Kissimmee, Florida.
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