The Red Sox drafted Cox number one in June 1973, ahead of Fred Lynn. He was the International League‘s MVP and all-star third baseman in 1977. After Boston called him up that year, Cox tied an AL record with four hits in his first full game in Baltimore on September 18. He extended the streak to six the next day against the Yankees, to set the mark for “most consecutive hits, start of career.” When the season ended, he had hit .362 in 13 games. The following spring, Boston included Cox in a trade with Cleveland for Dennis Eckersley, but Cox hit .233 that year and never played regularly in the majors.
