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Baseball Hawks looking forward to visit from legend Bobby Cox
By Jim O'Hara
ROME – He’s the kind of baseball legend that any baseball player would love to meet.
On Jan. 7, however, the roles will be reversed when former Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox takes the time to meet young men who play the game in his own backyard as he serves as keynote speaker at the 5th Annual Shorter University Baseball Meet the Team Dinner at 7 pm at the Huffman Center at Darlington School.
“It’s a tremendous honor to have a future Hall of Famer speak to the Shorter players, their families and to the community,” Shorter head coach Matt Larry said about the appearance of Cox, who calls Adairsville home after becoming baseball’s fourth all-time winningest manager. “From what I’ve heard, he’s looking forward to speaking because he feels close to Shorter. He knows people who are associated with Shorter and because he lives so close, I know he keeps up with Shorter.”
It’s a good bet that Cox knows that he will be talking to a team that is ready to build off of a solid 40-18 campaign last year. The 40 wins were the most for the program since 1981.
And it’s almost certain that the message he will deliver will leave this year’s Hawks with a renewed focus on adhering to what became Cox’s main trait – winning consistently.
When Cox retired from the game in 2010, he departed with 2,504 wins in 29 seasons – 26 of which came with the Braves.
Five times he led Atlanta to National League pennants, was named Manager of the Year four times and in 1995 led the Braves to the World Series championship. The run to the title came during a stretch from 1992 to 2005 during which Cox saw his teams win a record 14 straight division titles.
Last summer he was inducted into the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame and when he becomes eligible in 2014, baseball experts predict that he will be inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame.
Those who know Cox, however, also know that while he knew what it took to play the game on the field, he was always willing to help others off the field.
“He understands he’s helping us raise money for the program,” Larry said about Cox’s willingness to be the guest speaker. “He realizes that he will give those in the community an opportunity to meet the team.”
Cox is certainly not alone in taking time to help Shorter’s baseball team
The annual event will also recognize those former Hawks who have formed a tight-knit alumni group that has literally laid the foundation for a new batting cage for the Hawks that will be located just beyond the centerfield fence at the Robert H. Ledbetter Baseball Complex. Former Hawk Todd Wofford, who helped spearhead the campaign and received Shorter’s Distinguished Alumni Award, will give the introductory address.
“Our alumni have really become involved in helping us get a new batting cage,” Larry said about the growing support the program is getting from former players.
Tickets for the Meet the Team Dinner are $30 individually or $250 for a table of eight. VIP tables are available for $500.
Doors will open at 6 pm with a silent auction set to take place until 6:45 pm.
For more information on the dinner and to reserve tickets while they last, contact Larry at mlarry@shorter.edu or Rachel Rogers at rrogers@shorter.edu.
