Tyler Horner

Former Tokyo Yakult Swallow Bob Horner has passed away, he was 68. Horner famously signed a record-breaking contract with the Swallows in 1987. However, culture shock meant that he turned down an extension that would've made him baseball's highest-paid player. RIP

Legendary Atlanta Braves slugger Bob Horner has died at the age of 68. He hit 218 MLB HRs - four of those came in one game against the Montreal Expos on July 6, 1986 at Fulton County Stadium. My condolences to his family and friends.

Following his 9-year stint with Atlanta, Bob Horner went to Japan for the 1987 season and became one of NPB’s most awesome sluggers, hitting .327/.423/.683 (1.106 OPS) with 31 HR and 73 RBI in just 93 games and 303 AB. It earned him another shot in MLB for 1988. RIP legend 💔

RIP Bob Horner. My favorite Bob Horner trivia is that he hit FOUR home runs in the game in which Al Newman hit his ONLY home run.

Bob Horner was a top power hitter in college, got drafted 1st overall in 1978, skipped the minor leagues, won ROY at age 20 (in the same year he was drafted), averaged 35 HR per 162 games for his career, and had a 4-homer game in 1986. Here's one of them:

The ultimate Bob Horner moment as an Atlanta Brave During the epic Braves/San Diego Padres brawl of 1984 Champ Summers ran to the dugout trying to get Pascual Perez Well he met one Bob Horner (who was injured by the way) who would not let him pass

#RiP Bob Horner (1957-2026)

Super Sky Point to Bob Horner. He was the NL Rookie of the Year and an All-Star but if you were around back then you know he was more than that. Much more. He was a fixture in the homes of millions of us through the miracle of cable television during those epic childhood summers that seemed like they’d never end. I was a fan for over 40 years but had never met Bob until I interviewed him last December about Dale Murphy’s Hall of Fame case. As you’d expect, Bob was a fierce advocate for his fellow Fulton County basher. How could he not be? They were Murph and Horner. Horner and Murph. The Hall and Oates of the Launching Pad. You know, these sky points all suck to write but this one hurts more than most. The four-homer game, the bad perm, Chief Noc-A-Homa waiting by his teepee for another Horner long ball. I have tweeted a lot about Bob Horner through the years and it’s because he represents to me, and I suspect many of you too, something far bigger than baseball: WTBS coming out of the magic box on top of my 400-pound Zenith, cool air coming through my bedroom window after another afternoon of Wiffle Ball, and Rick Mahler (probably) toeing the rubber at about 7:05 while hoping to keep the Braves in it with smoke and mirrors long enough for Horner and Murph to do some damage. And me sprawled out on green and yellow shag carpet in Kentucky paying 100 times more attention to Skip Caray, Ernie Johnson, and Pete Van Wieren than any of my teachers. Farewell, you sweet slugging bastard. Tell St. Peter you brought your glove for the hot corner and to write you into the cleanup spot. #RIP

Number 5 - Third Baseman - Bob Horner. On the left, 1979, and on the right, 2022.

An all-time Braves photo. Ted Turner pouring champagne on himself while celebrating the 1982 NL West title with Bob Horner in San Diego. RIP to two Atlanta legends 📷 Associated Press

Bob Horner had elite power, was NL Rookie of the Year and NCAA player of the year in the same season. He was an MVP candidate in his 21 and 22-year old seasons, an All-Star at 24, and had a nine year run with the team where he slugged .508 for his career.

We've been through too many of these lately. Bob Horner was a talented slugger who never played a day in the minor leagues. Alongside Dale Murphy, he was why you watched #Braves baseball as they became America's team on TBS. Hope Horner finally finds his way into the team HOF.

RIP Bob Horner

We are saddened by the passing of former Braves third baseman Bob Horner. The first overall pick in the 1978 MLB Draft, Horner made the jump straight to the Majors without playing a single day in the Minors. Just ten days after being drafted, Horner made his MLB debut and homered off future Hall of Famer Bert Blyleven. Horner went on to blast 23 home runs in just 89 games and won NL Rookie of the Year honors. He went on to top the 30-homer mark three times in the next four years and was a National League All-Star in 1982, when he helped lead the Atlanta Braves to a division title. Horner spent 9 of his 10 Major League seasons with the Braves. He made history on July 6, 1986 when he slugged a record-tying 4 home runs in one game. It was the only four-homer game of the 1980s. Horner completed his college career at Arizona State with the most home runs in NCAA history, a mark since broken. He was named MVP of the 1977 College World Series and was the very first winner of the prestigious Golden Spikes Award in 1978. He was 68 years old.

@SportsSturm @LasColinasCC Thanks Bob, he was up there all the time for a long time.

RIP to the man who was always watching MLB Network at @LasColinasCC. He was a great dude!

@timeforjeffrey Spots on the depth chart with the least NFL caliber depth. On my list QB, RB, OT, LB

Cowboy questions go

May 8, 1986 | Braves at Reds “Back-to-back home runs! The Braves’ record [22-6] when Murphy and Horner homer is incredible!” — Ernie Johnson, Sr.

May 4, 1981 | Braves at Cardinals “Bob Horner went 4 for 4 with 2 doubles and 3 RBI in a 9 to 6 win over the Cardinals.” — Pete Van Wieren