The 1985 Atlanta Braves season was the 20th in Atlanta….and the 115th season in franchise history. The Braves failed to qualify for the postseason for the third consecutive season. Joe Torre had managed the Braves to the 1982 National League West Division title….then to a second-place 1983 finish….but his 1984 Braves fell below the .500 mark…..and 12 games behind the division-champion San Diego Padres….so, Torre was fired when the 1984 campaign ended…..and was replaced by coach Eddie Haas….who had been a successful manager in the Braves’ farm system….but Haas’ appointment did not rouse the 1985 Braves….who were at 50–71 (.413)….and in fifth place in the NL West….while being mired in a six-game losing streak when Haas was relieved of his duties on August 25…..as his immediate successor was coach Bobby Wine…..whose Braves finished the season and compiled a 16–25 (.390) mark. During the off-season, the Braves would hire former Pittsburgh Pirates skipper Chuck Tanner as their 1986 manager.
With Tanner’s hiring, Braves’ owner Ted Turner had employed four different managers in the period of 13 months….but Turner made a more momentous change in his executive offices on October 22, 1985….when he replaced general manager John Mullen…..who had been on the job since Bill Lucas’ sudden death in May 1979…..with former Atlanta field manager Bobby Cox….who had just piloted the Toronto Blue Jays to the 1985 American League East Division pennant.
As general manager, Cox began a long rebuilding process that would last five seasons….while seeing Cox draft and develop or acquire players like Tom Glavine, John Smoltz, Chipper Jones, David Justice and Steve Avery….but the continued struggles of the Braves on the field would result in Cox’ return to uniform as Atlanta’s field manager on June 23, 1990. Although the Braves continued their losing ways, going only 40–57 (.412) under Cox in 1990….they were poised to break into sustained contention in 1991….with 14 division titles in 15 seasons….five National League championships….and the 1995 World Series title….as Cox would enter the Baseball Hall of Fame on the strength of his successful managerial career, which ended with his 2010 retirement.
