1977 Topps Baseball #379 - Larry Cox

• Larry Cox was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in 1966. Larry originally was a pitcher but swithced to catching in 1969. 
• He played in the minors from 1966-1973 and finally got to play for the Phillies for a short time in April 1973. Larry appeared in one game without an at bat in '73.
• Cox played with the Phillies for a short time in 1974 (.170 in 30 games) and in 1975 (.200 in 7 games).
• Larry was traded to the Minnesota Twins after the 1975 season for Sergio Ferrer.
• After spending all of the 1976 season with AAA Tacoma, Larry Cox was purchased by the expansion Seattle Mariners. Cox played in 35 games for the Mariners and batted .247 with 2 home runs.
• After the 1977 season Larry was traded to the Chicago Cubs for a minor leaguer. In 1978 Cox played in 59 games as a backup to starting catcher Dave Rader. Larry batted .281 with 2 HR and 18 RBI.
• Cox was traded back to the Mariners during spring training in 1979 for Punch Delgado. Larry played in 100 games in 1979 (.215, 4 HR, 36 RBI) and in 105 games in 1980 (.202, 4 HR, 20 RBI). He was a defensive replacement in many of those games.
• After the 1980 season Larry was traded to the Texas Rangers in an 11-player deal that enabled the Mariners to get Richie Zisk and the Rangers to get Rick Honeycutt.
• Larry played in only five games for the Rangers in 1981 (3 for 13, .231) and was released on August 18.
• Cox signed with the Chicago Cubs in 1982. He played in only four games for the Cubs and was hitless in four at bats. He played in 13 games for AA Midland (he was a coach for most of the season) and then retired.
• After his playing career, Larry managed in the Cubs minor league system from 1983-1988. He managed their AAA Iowa club from 1985 until the latter part of the 1988 season. Cox then became the Cubs bullpen coach, a position he held until his death in 1990.
• Larry Cox died of a heart attack while playing raquetball on 17 February 1990 at the age of 42.
• 1977 Stats: .247, 2 HR, 6 RBI in 35 games
• 1977 Highlights:
• Aug 22 - Homered to help the Mariners beat the Cleveland Indians 4-3.
• Other card blogs: 1979, 1980, Cardboard Gods