A moment of silence was held prior to first pitch Saturday in recognition of the passing of former manager Bobby Cox, who helped the Blue Jays on their path from pretenders to contenders in the 1980s.

Many in baseball will equate Cox’s distinguished manager tenure with the Atlanta Braves, a franchise he led to unprecedented success capped off by a World Series title in 1995.

In Toronto, he guided the Jays from 1982-85, a time when the franchise was poised for a major breakthrough.

It was under Cox’s tutelage that the Jays earned their first division title.

“We are saddened to learn about the passing of former Blue Jays manager Bobby Cox,” the Blue Jays wrote in a statement. “Before (Saturday’s) game, we held a moment of silence to remember one of the game’s greats.

“Bobby managed us to our first division title in 1985, also winning Manager of the Year that year. Our thoughts are with his family and the Braves organization.”

The Blue Jays were coming of age when Cox managed them, helping pave the way for a later manager, Cito Gaston, whose presence was critical when the club won the World Series in 1992 and 1993.

Gaston joined Cox’s staff with the Jays in 1982, a year when the team went 78-84.

The Jays would incrementally improve with players such as Willie Upshaw, Jesse Barfield, Rance Mulliniks, George Bell, Jimmy Key, Tony Fernandez and Tom Henke leading the way.

The 1983 Jays won 89 games, a total matched by the 1984 edition at a time when the Detroit Tigers were the measuring stick in the AL East.

Toronto made its first appearance in the playoffs in 1985, a seven-game ALCS loss to the Kansas City Royals.

Atlanta came calling, and Cox departed Toronto to be with his family and also serve as GM of the Braves.

He was inducted into National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2014, a fitting reward for someone who helped lead teams to 15 division titles, five pennants and one World Series championship.

Cox also spent time with the Dodgers and Yankees.

Born in Tulsa, Okla., Cox would have turned 85 on May 21.

He was the third manager in Blue Jays history. He succeeded Roy Hartsfield and Bobby Mattick.

According to the Braves, Cox died in Marietta, Ga.

He had a stroke in 2019 and heart issues that complicated his recovery.