Former Braves All-Star, Rookie of the Year, Dies

Bob Horner, who took his power-hitting prowess straight from college baseball to the big leagues before injuries cut short his career, died. He was 68.

The Atlanta Braves, for whom Horner played nine of his 10 seasons in MLB, announced his death on May 26.

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"Bob Horner built a career out of being first," the statement read. "He was the first overall pick in the 1978 draft after an illustrious collegiate career. He was the first Braves draftee to skip the minor leagues entirely and debut directly in the majors. And he was the first Atlanta player to ever hit four home runs in a single game when he did so against the Montreal Expos in 1986.”

"The National League Rookie of the Year in 1978 and an NL All-Star in 1982, Horner teamed with Dale Murphy to form one of the most feared power duos in the game for nearly a decade.

"The Atlanta Braves extend sincere sympathies to his wife, Chris, two sons, Tyler and Trent, and his numerous friends and fans across the game."

Horner was the first pick in the 1978 MLB Draft out of Arizona State University, where he helped lead the Sun Devils to three consecutive College World Series appearances and a national championship in 1977.

Rather than assigning him to a minor league affiliate, the Braves promoted Horner straight to the big leagues. He hit 23 home runs in 89 games to capture the National League Rookie of the Year Award - a rapid rise without precedent in any era.

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Horner hit 215 of his 218 career home runs in Atlanta from 1978-86. He spent the 1987 season in Japan with the Yakult Swallows, then returned to MLB with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1988.

Shoulder injuries forced Horner to retire in spring training in 1989 with the Baltimore Orioles. He lived a quiet life out of the public spotlight in retirement.

Horner was part of the inaugural class of the College Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006.

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This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 7:43 PM.