A hot topic in Atlanta this week is the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame inductions of Atlanta Braves Bobby Cox, Tom Glavine and Greg Maddux. But did you know there was a Georgia State connection to the trio?
Mark Mortimer was a Georgia State catcher from 1995-97, leading the league with a .403 batting average in 1996. He set the school record for doubles (23) that still stands, earning All-America freshman honors and being signed by the Atlanta Braves in 1997. He played five seasons in the Braves minor-league system, moving up to the Richmond Braves of AAA before a severe wrist injury ended his playing career.
But, Mortimer still found a way to spend two full seasons with the Atlanta Braves. His role as No. 53 came as the bullpen catcher and do-it-all helper during the 2002 and 2003 seasons.
Mortimer first was “called up” to work with major league pitching in 1999 as a minor leaguer when he worked as a catcher during the January and early-February pitching sessions with pitching coach Leo Mazzone at Turner Field. After doing that for three years before heading off to his minor league teams, he was invited to the new role on the Braves major league staff to work all 162 games and playoffs.
Today, Mortimer talks about Bobby Cox. Check back Friday for his in-depth comments on catching the two Hall of Fame pitchers.
Bobby Cox
“Bobby Cox had earned everyone's respect and was a player's guy because he set some rules but let the guys play their game,” Mortimer said. “His baseball knowledge was off the wall, but he was not a micro-manager. He built camaraderie and his passion carried through to others.”
On record for ejections: “He protected his team and players with the umpires and each guy knew he would back them if they worked hard and hustled. He knew the rules and respected the game of baseball and the umpires, but he was that player's guy.”
On a moment he saw the serious Cox: “Early in the season, the team was in a slump and had lost like eight of 10 games. In the clubhouse, he really got on everyone's tail. He told them this was not our way of going about our business and to re-evaluate themselves. He had a real firm voice, but he was not a yeller and screamer. His message was received and the team started winning and went on to win 101 games. After a really bad game, he might actually kind of be yelling at himself on the side for something he had done or hadn't done, but he didn't yell at the guys.”
On Bobby as a person: “He called me Morty, or like a lot of the guys, I'd get called 'Kid' sometimes. He would stop and talk and ask each of us about our family and our background. He took the time to get to know everyone and cared about people. His taking the time to get to know me and just talk are special memories. That side of him always impressed me.”
