Bob Horner, the legendary hitter for the Atlanta Braves and a standout at Arizona State, has died at 68. The announcement came from the Braves on Tuesday, mourning the loss of a remarkable player.
The Braves commemorated Horner’s groundbreaking career, recognizing him as one of their all-time greats. They noted, “Bob Horner built a career out of being first.” He was the first overall pick in the 1978 draft and made headlines by skipping the minor leagues to debut directly in the majors.
Horner is also remembered for making baseball history by hitting four home runs in a game against the Montreal Expos in 1986. His accolades include being named National League Rookie of the Year in 1978 and an NL All-Star in 1982. He formed a powerful duo with Dale Murphy, dominating the game for nearly a decade.
The Braves extended heartfelt sympathies to his wife, Chris, his two sons, Tyler and Trent, and all those who admired him in the baseball community.
Selecting Horner as the first pick in the 1978 MLB Draft after an impressive college career at Arizona State, he quickly made an impact. In his MLB debut on June 16, 1978, he hit a home run off Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven.
In his rookie season, Horner’s stats were remarkable, hitting .266 with 23 home runs and 63 RBIs over just 89 games. Throughout his 10-season MLB career, he amassed 218 home runs and maintained a .277 batting average.
His peak season was 1980, when he achieved a career-high of 35 home runs. He topped 30 home runs twice more and was pivotal in leading the Braves to the NLCS in 1982.
Beyond the majors, Horner’s collegiate achievements were equally stellar. At Arizona State, he set an NCAA record with 58 career home runs and led the team to three College World Series appearances, including a national title in 1977.
In 2006, he was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame, honoring his lasting impact on the sport.
