Books and articles about Billy Cox

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Cox is considered by many the greatest fielding third baseman prior to Brooks Robinson. After a brief ML fling in 1941 and four years of military service, Cox became the Pirates' starting shortstop in 1946 and hit .290 to lead the club. Despite his career-high 15 HR in 1947, Cox was traded with Preacher Roe and Gene Mauch to Brooklyn for 37-year-old Dixie Walker and pitchers Hal Gregg and Vic Lombardi. It was one of Pittsburgh's worst trades, and Branch Rickey's and the Dodgers' best. Cox held down third base in Brooklyn for seven seasons and three NL Championships. Casey Stengel said of him, "That ain't a third baseman. That's a f----g acrobat." He led the NL in fielding percentage in 1950 and '52. (ME)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » May 15, 1947: Behind Ralph Kiner's two home runs, the Pirates beat the Dodgers, 7–3, handing Brooklyn its 8th loss in nine games. Billy Cox also homers for the Pirates. » August 16, 1947: Ralph Kiner hits three successive home runs for the host Pittsburgh Pirates, in a 12–7 win over the Cardinals in a game in which the two clubs bang out major-league record (since topped) 10 homers. Two other Bucs, Hank Greenberg and Billy Cox, and one Cardinal (Whitey Kurowski) each contribute two home runs to set a major-league record for most players with 2+ homers in a game. Kiner matches the ML mark of seven home runs in four games, six in three games, five in two games, and four in consecutive at bats. By the end of the month, Big Ralph will still trail Mize 39 to 43 in a head-to-head home run competition that will only be matched by Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle in 1961. Starters Roger Wolff and the Cards Ken Burkhart exit in the first inning. » December 8, 1947: In a move that will anchor The Boys of Summer, Brooklyn acquires SS Billy Cox, P Preacher Roe, and infielder Gene Mauch from Pittsburgh for pitchers Vic Lombardi, Hal Gregg, and former batting champ, 37-year-old Dixie Walker. In the spring Walker had requested in writing to be traded, but then changed his mind. » May 12, 1948: At Cincinnati, the Reds score three in the 9th but come up short, losing to Brooklyn, 9–7. Reds starter and loser Johnny Vander Meer doubles in the 5th and doesn't advance when Glenn Corbitt bounces a single over Billy Cox's head (as noted by Bill Deane). Pee Wee Reese retrieves the ball and keeps it, pulling off a hidden ball trick on Vandy when he wanders off 2B. Taking no chances, the Reds pinch hit for Vandy in the 6th. » May 18, 1950: Cards third baseman Tom Glaviano makes three errors on successive plays in the 9th—2 wild throws and a boot—that lets in four runs in a 9–8 loss. The Dodgers trail by an 8–0 score in the game, and close to 8–5 in the 9th and have the bases jammed when Glaviano experiences his nightmare. He ties a major-league record set most recently by Dodgers Billy Cox last year. » August 15, 1951: Giants P Jim Hearn defeats the Dodgers 3–1 as Willie Mays makes a miraculous play in the 8th. With the score 1–1 and Billy Cox on 3rd, Mays makes a running catch of a Carl Furillo drive in deep right CF and whirls counterclockwise to throw out the astonished Cox at home. Wes Westrum's 2-run homer off Ralph Branca in the 8th provides the two-run margin. Hearn allows just six hits, all singles, as the Giants move to 10 1/2 behind Brooklyn. » August 16, 1951: Sal Maglie outpitches Don Newcombe, 2–1, to cut the Dodger lead over the Giants to nine 1/2 games. Maglie allows four hits, including Billy Cox's 300-foot homer, in winning his 17th. The Giants score the winner in the 7th when Bobby Thomson scores on a wild pitch. Reese goes hitless, ending his 22-game streak. » September 7, 1951: Preacher Roe walks six Phils, but pushes his record to 19–2, as the Dodgers win 11–6 over Robin Roberts. Carl Furillo hits two homers, Andy Pafko adds #22, and Billy Cox drives in four runs with a bases loaded triple and two doubles. » May 21, 1952: After leadoff batter Billy Cox grounds out against Ewell Blackwell, the Whip loses his snap. The Dodgers then score 15 runs in the first inning as a record 19 consecutive batters reach 1B. Captain Pee Wee Reese walks twice in reaching base safely three times. Andy Pafko is thrown out trying to steal 3B, and Duke Snider mercifully strikes out to end the barrage against the Reds. The Dodgers score 15 runs on 15 RBIs in the frame, and coast at home, 19–1. Winning pitcher Chris Van Cuyk has the most hits with four—two in the first inning off Bud Byerly and Frank Smith, while Bobby Morgan has a pair of two-run homers and Snider another two-run homer. The Reds lone run is a homer by reserve catcher Dixie Howell. » October 5, 1952: At Yankee Stadium, the seesaw WS battle continues as Brooklyn wins 6-5 in 11 innings when Duke Snider doubles home Billy Cox. Carl Erskine goes all the way for the win. » July 18, 1953: Dodger backup 1B Wayne Belardi scores two runs in the 8th inning, one on a pinch-hit grand slam. His slam in the eighth is the third Dodger grand slam in three games (Gil Hodges connected on the 16th, and Billy Cox, on the 17th). The Dodgers' 8-6 win over the Cardinals puts Brooklyn three games ahead of Milwaukee. » December 13, 1954: The Dodgers shed part of an era, sending P Preacher Roe and 3B Billy Cox to Baltimore for two unknowns and cash. The O's will complete this deal next March by sending OF Frank Kellert to Brooklyn for P Erv Palica. » June 15, 1955: The Orioles trade OF Gene Woodling and IF Billy Cox to the Indians for OFs Wally Westlake and Dave Pope. When Cox announces his retirement, the Indians get more cash.