ATLANTA (AP) — Bob Horner, the power-hitting third baseman who was the No. 1 overall draft pick in 1978 and hit a home run in his debut with the Atlanta Braves after skipping the minor leagues, has died. He was 68.The Braves, who said Tuesday they were informed of Horner’s death in Texas by his wife, Chris, announced the news on their X account. The team did not report Horner’s cause of death.Horner hit 218 homers in his 10-year career, including nine seasons with the Braves. The total included a four-homer game in 1986. He joined two-time MVP Dale Murphy to form the heart of the Braves’ lineup through much of the 1980s.Following a standout career at Arizona State that earned him a place in the College Baseball Hall of Fame’s first class, Horner became the first Braves draft pick to skip the minor leagues and play his first professional game in the major leagues. In his debut, Horner hit a homer off future Hall of Fame pitcher Bert Blyleven of the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 16, 1978.
Horner was selected as the NL Rookie of the Year after hitting .266 with 23 homers in 89 games.On July 6, 1986, against Montreal, Horner became the first Braves player to hit four homers in a game. It was the only four-homer game in the majors during the 1980s.
