NEW YORK --- After 50 years in baseball, Bobby Cox figured the only way he would ever give up managing was to pick a specific time and announce it publicly.
So that's what he did Wednesday, revealing his plans to retire as manager of the Atlanta Braves after next season.
Now comes the hard part: sticking to it.
"There is a little bit of relief once you come to grips with announcing it," Cox said. "I've never lost the love to manage, period. But you have to make a decision. At my age, you have to make a decision. Somebody a little younger can start up."
The 68-year-old Cox, a four-time Manager of the Year, agreed to a one-year contract extension for 2010, the Braves announced before Wednesday night's 5-2 victory over the New York Mets.
He will start a five-year consulting agreement to advise the team in baseball operations after he steps down as manager.
During an illustrious career on the bench, Cox has guided Atlanta to 14 consecutive postseason appearances (1991-2005) and the 1995 World Series title.
"They asked me to come back, and I said I would do it for one more year, and we'll announce the retirement along with it. It's the only way I think I'm ever going to walk away from the game, is to go ahead and say I'm going to, and then I've got to," Cox said. "There's no turning back now -- win, lose or draw. Whatever happens next year is going to be it."
Counting Wednesday's victory over the Mets, Cox has 2,409 regular-season wins as a manager, fourth behind Connie Mack (3,731), John McGraw (2,763) and Tony La Russa (2,550).
Cox and Joe McCarthy are the only managers with six 100-win regular seasons.
"It'll be a sad day, a sad day when he leaves," said Atlanta's Chipper Jones, who has played for Cox his entire career.
Cox has been ejected seven times this season, extending his major league record to 150.
"What you can always say about Bobby is that he always gets the best out of his players and that he's a class act," umpire Ed Rapuano said in Cleveland. "You could toss him, but the next day all was forgotten."
MORE
READ staff writer Scott Michaux's blog on Bobby Cox's announcement here.
THE BOBBY COX FILE
PLAYING CAREER: Signed by the Dodgers as an amateur free agent in 1959. ... Hit .225 with nine homers and 58 RBI in two seasons with the New York Yankees.
MANAGERIAL CAREER: Is a four-time manager of the year (Toronto in 1985 and Atlanta in 1991, 2004-05). ... Has managed the Braves twice (1978-81, 1990 to present). Was general manager from 1985-1990. ... Cox and Joe McCarthy are the only managers with six 100-win seasons.
WINNINGEST MANAGERS
A look at the top 10 winningest managers of all-time:
1. Connie Mack -- 3,731-3,948
2. John McGraw -- 2,763-1,948
3. Tony La Russa -- 2,550-2,209
4. Bobby Cox -- 2,409-1,924
5. Joe Torre -- 2,242-1,908
6. Sparky Anderson -- 2,194-1,834
7. Bucky Harris -- 2,157-2,218
8. Joe McCarthy -- 2,125-1,333
9. Walter Alston -- 2,040-1,613
10. Leo Durocher -- 2,008-1,709
Source: braves.mlb.com
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