| 19 January 2011
Its late January, pitchers and catchers will start reporting in about 25 days, and while most websites are busy doing previews for the upcoming season, I thought it best to start off with some of the greats who won't be strapping on the cleats and writing out the lineup cards this year.
While there were many players to officially retire last year (Nomar, Big Hurt, etc..) there are a particular few who will be greatly missed. For years, Ken Griffey Jr, Lou Piniella and Bobby Cox have all entertained us with their play, antics and over all baseball genius.
Read on to reflect on the careers that were before we start looking ahead to 2011...
Ken Griffey Jr
The good role model with the million dollar smile retired last year capping off his career where he started, the Seattle Mariners. With Griffey's retirement, its the ending of an era where fans thought everyone was clean. With Griffey's retirement, its the ending of an era where fans thought everyone was clean.
Babes love Baseball stated "The 40-year-old Hall of Fame shoe-in has enjoyed 13 All-Star appearances, 10 Gold Gloves, seven Silver Slugger Awards, the 1997 MVP honor, and won the Home Run Derby on three different occasions, starred in four Nintendo games, appeared on the Simpsons as well as The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, and had his very own candy bar for a while. Also, he sits at No. 5 on the All-Time Career Home Runs list with 630, behind Willie Mays, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds."
Saying the words "Griffey's catch" only brings to mind one image in a highlight filled career. Though he fractured his wrist after this play and ultimately missed 73 games, when he returned he hit 17 home runs to spark the Mariners during their 2nd half fun. 
Lou Piniella
While many will remember Lou Piniella as the manager with a bad temper, he was also a hell of a ball player too.
Piniella, who spent time with the Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals, spent most of time playing for the Evil Empire otherwise known as the Yankees. He played with the Yankees for 11 seasons, winning five AL East titles, four AL pennants and two World Series championships. Even though he wasn't a full time player, he did make one All Star appearance and gather 1705 hits during his playing time.
His managerial career was just as successful when he won a Championship for the Cincinnati Reds in 1990, a 116 game winning season in 2001 for the Seattle Mariners along with an appearance in the ALCS. He spent a brief and probably miserable time managing the formally dubbed "Tampa Bay Devil Rays" but left to manage the Cubs where it was hoped he could bring a championship to cursed team but only managed to get the Central Division title once.
His fiery passion for the game and his ability to lift his players attitudes because of exploits made him one of the most entertaining but still knowledgeable managers to watch in the game. There was a "method to his madness" and he was and still is highly respected.
Most baseball fans remember one of the best fights between Red Sox and Yankee players occurred because "Sweet Lou" barrelled his way into Carlton Fisk starting the brawl that left Sox pitcher Bill Lee with a cracked collarbone.
Bobby Cox
When you think of the Atlanta Braves, one iconic figure comes to mind and that is Bobby Cox.
Like Piniella, Cox also started off playing the game of baseball but his skills were clearly suited to lead and manage. His first stint with the Braves started in 1978 and over the next several years, the team was building from the ground up and were admittedly, terrible. When Ted Turner fired Cox in 1981 after the Baseball strike Turner was asked about who he would consider to hire next when Turner said the famous "It would be Bobby Cox if I hadn't just fired him. We need someone like him around here." The next year, the Braves won the division under Cox's successor, Joe Torre.
After a brief stint with the Blue Jays, Cox rejoined the Atlanta Braves in 1986 as GM where he helped bring in the skills of Chipper Jones, Ron Gant, Tom Glavine, Steve Avery, Pete Smith, and David Justice. In 1990, Cox fired the current Manager and hired himself back and manager of the ball club where he stayed until 2010.
Besides being ejected from the most MLB games (including twice in the World Series), Bobby Cox has been Manger of the Year 4 times (in both the NL and AL) and is only manager to ever win MOY in back to back seasons. He is the 4th most winning manager of all time with a record of 2,195 wins and 1,698 losses. He led the Braves to a division title every season from 1991 to 2005 and won them a championship in 1995.
While Cox later reminded us of a grumpy Grandfather type, there is no doubt his love for the game and his talent for management will be remembered in Atlanta Braves (and baseball) lure for decades to come. The Atlanta Braves will not feel the same the next time a bad call is made and Cox isn't out there to try and ruffle some feathers.
Famous quote from Cox to Jeff Francoeur after he was ejected:
"I’m like, ‘What do I do?’ He (Cox) said, ‘Go have a couple cold beers and get in the cold tub or something and relax. And then you’ll probably have to write a $500 check. Or you can do what I do, write a $10,000 one and tell them when it runs out, let me know'."
