Former Major League All-Star and 1978 NL Rookie of the Year Bob Horner has passed away at age 68. The Atlanta Braves announced the news on Tuesday and extended their condolences to his family and close friends.
Born in Kansas and raised in Arizona, Horner was a 15th-round high school draft pick by the A’s before choosing to attend Arizona State University. At ASU, he became a legend, hitting 56 home runs over three seasons, a school record that still stands. He led the Sun Devils to a national championship in 1977 and a runner-up finish in 1978.
The Braves selected Horner with the first overall pick in the 1978 MLB Draft and quickly promoted him to the majors. In his debut season, he hit 23 home runs and drove in 63 runs in just 89 games, narrowly edging out Hall of Famer Ozzie Smith for NL Rookie of the Year honors.
Horner became a mainstay at third base in Atlanta, hitting over 30 home runs in each of his first two full seasons. In 1980, he hit a career-high 35 homers and finished ninth in NL MVP voting. He made the 1982 All-Star Game and helped lead the Braves to an NL West title.
His most memorable performance came on July 6, 1986, when he hit four home runs against the Montreal Expos. That game remains the only four-homer game in Braves history and one of just 21 in MLB history. Tragically, Horner’s team lost 11-8 in the contest.
After the 1986 season, Horner signed with Japan’s Yakult Swallows and hit .327 with 31 homers in 93 games. He returned to the majors in 1987 with the Cardinals, rejecting a $3 million offer from Yakult to sign for $950,000.
Horner retired in 1989 due to a lingering left shoulder injury. Over parts of nine seasons in Atlanta, he batted .278/.339/.508 with 215 home runs and 685 RBIs. He finished his MLB career with a .277/.340/.499 slash line and 218 home runs.
Horner’s passing comes shortly after the baseball world lost two other Braves icons, Ted Turner and Bobby Cox. The baseball community continues to honor his legacy and send condolences to his family, friends, and former teammates.
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