Bob Horner, the power-hitting third baseman and No. 1 overall draft pick in 1978, who famously hit a home run in his MLB debut with the Atlanta Braves after skipping the minor leagues, has died at 68. A College Baseball Hall of Famer, Horner was also the first Brave to hit four homers in a game.
Bob Horner, the celebrated power-hitting third baseman and the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1978, has died at the age of 68. Following a standout career at Arizona State that earned him a place in the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s inaugural class, Horner made an immediate impact by becoming the first Braves draft pick to skip the minor leagues and play his first professional game in the majors. In his debut on June 16, 1978, he hit a home run off future Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven. Horner was subsequently selected as the NL Rookie of the Year after hitting .266 with 23 homers in 89 games. A career highlight occurred on July 6, 1986, when Horner became the first Braves player to hit four home runs in a single game, a feat that was the only four-homer game in the majors during the 1980s. Known for his compact swing and low strikeout numbers, he hit .277 for his career, achieving three seasons with over 30 homers, including a career-high 35 in 1980. He was an All-Star in 1982, batting .261 with 32 homers and 97 RBIs. Horner left the Braves after the 1986 season to play one season in Japan before returning to the major leagues with St. Louis in 1988, eventually retiring during spring training in 1989. The Braves paid tribute to Horner, noting he 'built a career out of being first,' highlighting his achievements as the first overall draft pick, the first Braves draftee to skip the minors, and the organization’s first player to hit four homers in a game. At Arizona State, Horner was the MVP of the 1977 College World Series and won the first Golden Spikes Award in 1978, setting an NCAA career record with 56 homers, a record later surpassed.
