Barry Cox

From BR Bullpen

Wallace Barry Cox

  • Bats Right, Throws Right
  • Height 5' 9", Weight 170 lb.

BR Minors page

Biographical Information[edit]

Outfielder Barry Cox played eight seasons of minor league baseball, including five with the Harlan Smokies of the Mountain States League. He never moved above the C level, where he was a multi-dimensional offensive threat. He hit .290/.366/.481 in his pro debut with the 1946 Nyack Rocklands. In 1948, he batted .339/?/.507 with 9 triples for the Owensboro Oilers. He was among the KITTY League top five in average and slugging while tying for 7th with 10 home runs. He spent 1949 with the Eau Claire Braves and hit .290/?/.409 with 10 triples, tying him for tenth in the Northern League.

In 1950, Cox began his Harlan career with a batting line of .319/.462/.602, 25 steals, 94 walks, 106 runs and 24 homers in 357 AB. He tied for second in the league in homers, 3 behind Joseph Christian. He also was second in walks while leading in swipes. The next year, he posted similarly strong numbers for the Smokies: .309, .585 SLG, 35 doubles, 31 home runs. He tied for 4th in the circuit in doubles and was again second in homers, this time 3 behind Bill Halstead. With the '52 Smokies, he hit .307/.463/.519 with 24 HR, 26 SB, 128 walks, 98 RBI and 116 runs. He was third in the Mountain States League in home runs, second in walks, second in runs and 5th in RBI.

He also briefly managed the Smokies in 1953. That year, he batted .324/.453/.535 with another 24 homers as well as 118 runs, 37 steals, 105 walks and 103 RBI. He tied Halstead for fifth in the MSL in circuit clouts, tied for second in walks (behind Leo Shoals) and tied for 6th in steals. He ended his career in 1954, his production falling as he hit .241 with no homers and a .293 slugging percentage in 30 games for the Smokies, a far cry from his career to that point.

Overall, he hit 123 home runs in 736 minor league games, batting .311 with a .518 slugging percentage. Prior to baseball, he served in the US Army. He later was a Scheduling and Planning Manager for Georgia Pacific Company and ran bingo at his church.

Year-by-Year Managerial Record[edit]

Year Team League Record Finish Playoffs Notes
1953 Harlan Smokies Mountain States League -- -- replaced Cliff Melton, replaced by James Grigg

Related Sites[edit]