ATLANTA — When in doubt, Brian Snitker turned to Bobby Cox for advice.
It was only natural for Snitker to once again seek counsel from a familiar source — and someone who once faced the same decision — when considering if this was the right time to step down as manager of the Atlanta Braves.
Snitker received reassurance, this time through Cox’s wife Pam, that after his managerial career was over, the longtime Atlanta skipper relished serving in the same advisory role that Snitker now assumes for the organization.
Snitker, who managed the Braves to the 2021 World Series championship as the highlight of almost a half-century with the organization, will not return to the dugout next season. His decision became public Wednesday, when the Braves also announced the 69-year-old baseball lifer will be inducted into the team’s hall of fame next year.
“I talked with Pam yesterday,” Snitker said at a news conference. “She did tell me once he got the hang of this position, he really loved it.”
Cox had two stints in the dugout for the Braves — from 1978-81 and again from June 1990 to 2010, with a four-year run as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays from 1982-85 before returning to Atlanta as general manager from 1986-90. His second time around as Atlanta’s manager was notably successful as the Braves won 14 division titles for 15 of their postseason berths in that span while winning the World Series in 1995 and reaching the title round four other times under Cox.
Cox was a mentor to Snitker, who was Atlanta’s bullpen coach in 1985 and from 1988-90 as well as its third base coach from 2007-13. Snitker continued to visit Cox regularly after the former skipper was hospitalized in 2019 after a stroke. Cox, 84, returned to Truist Park on Aug. 22 for a 30-year celebration of the Braves’ 1995 World Series title, the franchise’s first since moving to Atlanta ahead of the 1966 season.
Cox, whose number was retired by the Braves the year after he stepped down as manager, was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014.
The news conference to announce Snitker’s decision was described as a celebration by Braves chairman Terry McGuirk and general manager Alex Anthopoulos. Snitker was emotional at times as he described his uncertainty late in the season about his desire to manage another year and how he finally concluded it was time to step down.
The Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-1 on Sunday at Truist Park in the 2025 finale for two teams that had been eliminated from contention for postseason play ahead of the final week of the regular season. Atlanta hadn’t missed the playoffs since finishing third in the National League East Division and falling short of a wild-card berth in 2017.
The Braves finished 76-87 and were fourth in the NL East this season, which was the final year of Snitker’s current contract.
“I said I’m going to need a little time after that last out to decide what I’m going to do,” said Snitker, who was joined by his wife, Ronnie, at Wednesday’s news conference. “After I got home and decompressed a little bit, I did decide this was the best move.”
Snitker’s 49 years with the organization include time as a minor league player and manager in addition to his spells with the MLB club.
Snitker led Atlanta to 811 regular-season wins, six NL East division titles (2018-23), and one wild-card berth (2024) in his 10 seasons as manager. He took over on an interim basis on May 17, 2016 — after Fredi Gonzalez was fired early in his sixth season as manager — and the club removed the interim label after the season.
“Honestly, I never thought I’d manage one day in the major leagues, much less 10 years,” said Snitker, who was voted NL manager of the year in 2018. “I never thought I’d hoist a trophy.”
Snitker paused to collect his emotions before referring to players at the news conference and his joy to “be around a group of guys that makes this so special.”
Atlanta players who attended the news conference included second baseman Ozzie Albies, catcher Drake Baldwin, center fielder Michael Harris II, third baseman Austin Riley, and pitchers Joe Jiménez, Reynaldo López and Spencer Strider.
McGuirk presented the retiring manager with keys to a new Ford truck and announced the team was sending Snitker and his wife on a vacation to Hawaii.
“Today we celebrate and honor not only one of the most accomplished managers in the history of our franchise but also one of the finest people to ever wear the uniform,” McGuirk said. “You will always be a Brave, a Brave forever, and this organization will always be your home.”
Snitker said he looked forward to his new role.
“I’m still going to be here,” he said. “I’m going to be in spring training. I’m excited about this new role.”
Snitker, who signed with the Braves as an undrafted free-agent catcher in 1977, spent 20 seasons with the organization as a minor league manager. As the MLB club’s manager, Snitker posted a record of 835-91 (including 24-23 in the postseason) and ranks third in franchise history in regular-season wins, trailing only Cox (2,149) and Frank Selee (1,004 from 1890-1901 when the club was known as the Boston Beaneaters).
Anthopoulos and McGuirk did not address a plan to find Snitker’s replacement. Walt Weiss, Atlanta’s bench coach, managed the Colorado Rockies from 2013-16. Gonzalez, who returned to Atlanta as third base coach in June, also managed the Florida Marlins from 2007-10 in addition to his time leading the Braves.
Atlanta is the fifth MLB team to move on from its manager since the regular season ended Sunday. The Los Angeles Angels announced Tuesday that 73-year-old Ron Washington — Atlanta’s third base coach and infield instructor from 2017-23 — would not return in 2026.
The San Francisco Giants fired Bob Melvin and the Minnesota Twins fired Rocco Baldelli on Monday, and the same day brought the announcement that Bruce Bochy, 70, and the Texas Rangers mutually decided he won’t return to the dugout. Washington, Bochy and Snitker were the three oldest managers in the majors this season.