The End of an Era

Last night, in front of a sellout crowd of 52,000 at Turner Field in Atlanta, Bobby Cox walked off the field for the final time as manager of the Atlanta Braves. So significant are his accomplishments, no one will ever take his place as the most beloved figure in Atlanta history. That's right, Hank Aaron, Chipper Jones, and maybe even Matt Ryan will never match Bobby Cox. He took a team that rivaled the Cubs as the biggest losers and took them to the top of the division 14 years straight. How fitting an ending that he does something he never did before - win the Wild Card to close out his career.

However, this season, baseball fans are indeed witnessing the end of an era. That's not just in Atlanta. It's in LA, Chicago, and possibly St. Louis. At no other time in history will we ever witness such a quartet of successful managers leaving the game of baseball together. Bobby Cox, Lou Piniella, Joe Torre, and Tony La Russa will go down as four of the greatest managers of all time. All are in the top fifteen among most wins in history, with La Russa, Cox, and Torre in the top five. Combined, they have eight World Series rings between them and many more appearances. Yet, at least three, possibly all four will not be in dugouts when the first pitches are tossed out to open the 2011 Season.

It's going to be strange next season. There is no question about it. All four are certainly Cooperstown-bound. I wish La Russa would call it quits now so all four could go into the Hall together. Wouldn't that be something to see? Four of the greatest standing together in five years, celebrating not only a rare and extraordinary accomplishment, but the end of one of the most successful baseball eras of all time.

Here is to you gentlemen....thank you!