In the Time of Bobby Cox: The Atlanta Braves, Their Manager, My Couch, Two Decades, and Me
In his second incarnation as Atlanta Braves manager, from 1990 through 2010, Bobby Cox, now retired, was so predictably successful�14 straight division titles, 14 seasons of 90 wins or more�as to operate almost under the radar of many baseball fans. Whitaker, executive editor of SLAM magazine and super Braves fan, pays tribute to Cox and the teams he managed. There�s some analysis here�Whitaker�s take on future Hall of Fame pitcher Greg Maddux is especially keen�but readers will more likely appreciate the author�s undying connection to his team, which includes an apparently complete, annotated list of every player on the Braves during Cox�s second tenure and, more important, the life lessons Whitaker drew from Bobby Cox, among them patience, adaptability, resilience, and a dedication to improving the performance of those he managed. Essential reading for Braves� devotees and a fascinating baseball story for fans of all kinds. --Alan Moores