Just a few weeks after legendary former owner Ted Turner and Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox passed away within a few days of each other, the Atlanta Braves lost another 1980s icon on Tuesday, when the club announced that Bob Horner had passed away at age 68.
Horner played for the Braves from 1978 to 1986, and after a season in Japan, the third baseman ended his career with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1988.
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) May 26, 2026
Bob Horner, 1978 Rookie of the Year, just passed away
Bob Horner was the first overall pick in the 1978 draft by the Braves after playing college at Arizona State. He was the first player to win the Golden Spikes Award with ASU in 1978, which is given out to the best amateur baseball player.
After being drafted by the Braves, Horner became one of the few MLB players in history to make the jump from the draft to the big leagues without playing in the minors, debuting on June 16, 1978, just 10 days after being drafted by Atlanta.
Despite not spending a second in the minors, Horner hit 23 homers in the big leagues in 1978, slashing .266/.313/.539, and taking home the 1978 Rookie of the Year, beating out San Diego Padres shortstop Ozzie Smith by four votes.
Horner cemented himself as the Braves third baseman for the next seasons, and hit at least 30 homers in three of those seasons. He made the All-Star team in 1982, and picked up MVP votes in 1979, 1980, and 1983. Horner missed parts of 1983 and 1983 with injury, and then moved to first base in 1986.
In 1986, Horner's final year with the Braves, he clubbed four homers in a single game against the Expos. Unfortunately, the Braves allowed 11 runs and lost 11-6. To this day, Horner is one of just two players to hit four homers in a game where his team lost. The only other time this happened was last season, when Eugenio Suarez hit four homers off of the Braves.
Horner was an unfortunate victim of collusion in 1987, when no team offered him a free agent contract, After spending 1987 with the Yakult Swallows, Horner played one more injury-shortened season with the Cardinals before retiring.
Although Horner's MLB career was short, Horner will always be remembered in Braves history. From his Rookie of the Year and his four-homer game to his involvement in one of the biggest brawls in MLB history, the slugger had no shortage of memorable moments with Atlanta.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to Horner's family.
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