Bob Horner dies at 68 as Braves mourn another iconic figure from franchise’s golden era originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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The Atlanta Braves announced Tuesday that former slugger Bob Horner has died at the age of 68, closing another chapter on one of the franchise’s most memorable eras. His passing comes only weeks after the deaths of former Braves owner Ted Turner and Hall of Fame manager Bobby Cox, three figures whose influence shaped baseball in Atlanta across multiple decades.
Horner arrived in Atlanta with enormous expectations after being selected No. 1 overall in the 1978 MLB Draft out of Arizona State. He bypassed the minor leagues entirely and made an immediate impact, homering in his major league debut. By season’s end, Horner had blasted 23 home runs in only 89 games, earning National League Rookie of the Year honors.
Braves slugger delivered power and hope in Atlanta
Over 10 major league seasons, Horner became one of baseball’s most feared power hitters. He finished his MLB career with a .277 batting average, 218 home runs and 685 RBIs across 1,020 games. He spent nine seasons with Atlanta, forming a dangerous middle-of-the-order tandem with Dale Murphy during the Braves teams of the early 1980s.
One of Horner’s defining moments came on July 6, 1986, when he became just the 11th player in major league history to hit four home runs in a single game. He also earned an All-Star selection in 1982 and received MVP votes in three different seasons.
The Braves called Horner “a player who built a career out of being first,” highlighting his groundbreaking rise from college star to franchise cornerstone. For many Braves fans, especially during the difficult seasons before Atlanta’s 1990s dynasty, Horner represented power, toughness and hope.