Freddie Freeman Remembers Late Braves Manager Bobby Cox

Freddie Freeman won't forget the lessons he learned from Bobby Cox, his first MLB manager. On May 9, 2026, the Braves announced Cox's death at 84.

Freeman smiled as he told stories of Cox, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014. The Dodgers are currently in a three-game series against the Braves.

Freeman was a September call-up in Cox's final season as a manager in 2010. Despite limited time together, Cox had a significant influence on Freeman.

Cox was a manager who "relentlessly had our backs," said Freeman. He recalled walking into the Braves' clubhouse for the first time on September 1, 2010, and seeing a lineup card with his name as the No. 6 hitter.

Freeman was nervous, but Cox's approachable nature put him at ease. The manager asked Freeman what took him so long to get to the big leagues, and Freeman's nerves disappeared.

Freeman's favorite memory of Cox wasn't from a baseball field or clubhouse. In spring training of 2017, Freeman and his wife ran into Cox and his wife at dinner. Cox's joy when he saw Freeman's 6-month-old son, Charlie, is a moment Freeman will never forget.

The Dodgers will continue their series against the Braves, but for Freeman, the memory of Cox will stay with him. On May 9, 2026, the baseball world lost a legend, but Freeman's stories of Cox will keep his legacy alive.

Freeman's time with the Braves didn't overlap much with Cox's, but the impact Cox had on him is undeniable. As the Dodgers move forward, Freeman will carry the lessons he learned from Cox with him.

The Braves announced Cox's death on May 9, 2026, and the baseball world has been mourning the loss of a Hall of Famer. For Freeman, the memory of Cox will be a reminder of the impact one person can have on a player's career.