- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 1,151,225
- Reaction score
- 59
The Atlanta Braves organization has been dealt another blow after the death of former player Bob Horner Tuesday.
The 68-year-old former Rookie of the Year was a No. 1 overall draft pick by the Braves in the 1978 amateur draft. A cause of death has not been released as of Wednesday afternoon.
"Bob Horner built a career out of being first. 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 Atlanta Braves said in a May 26 statement.
Horner was with the Braves for nine seasons from 1978 to 1986, playing third base, but was plagued with injuries during his time in Atlanta. It didn't stop him from hitting 218 home runs, ultimately being named an All-Star in 1982 with a 32-home run and 97-RBI season that led the Braves to a National League West Division title.
Horner's years spent in Atlanta overlapped with former manager Bobby Cox, who died May 9 at the age of 84, and former Braves owner Ted Turner, who died just three days earlier on May 6 at the age of 87.
Following a losing season for the Atlanta Braves before Horner was drafted (they went 67-94), Turner purchased the team in January 1976.
"I don't want to see any more headlines calling Atlanta 'Loserville U.S.A.' I want to see Winnersville U.S.A.," Turner said at a press conference following the purchase, according to ESPN.
Cox joined the team in November 1977, not long after Turner purchased the Braves.
He led the team to what the MLB called "unprecedented success" through 14 straight division titles between 1991 and 2005, 5 NL pennants and ultimately the 1995 World Series Championship.
Displays and nods to the two Braves legends are already in place around Truist Park and on the gear of the team. A "6" is now printed on the back of players hats to honor Cox, and they will be in place for the rest of the season.
Turner is honored with a "17" jersey, referencing a 1976 marketing move by Turner where Atlanta Braves pitcher Andy Messersmith wore the number of the television station (WTCG-TV, Channel 17 in Atlanta) owned by the future media giant. Cox was assigned the "6" jersey, but it later became synonymous with the manager, and was retired as a number for the Braves organization following his retirement.
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Braves organization loses third baseball legend with Bob Horner's death
Continue reading...
The 68-year-old former Rookie of the Year was a No. 1 overall draft pick by the Braves in the 1978 amateur draft. A cause of death has not been released as of Wednesday afternoon.
"Bob Horner built a career out of being first. 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 Atlanta Braves said in a May 26 statement.
Horner was with the Braves for nine seasons from 1978 to 1986, playing third base, but was plagued with injuries during his time in Atlanta. It didn't stop him from hitting 218 home runs, ultimately being named an All-Star in 1982 with a 32-home run and 97-RBI season that led the Braves to a National League West Division title.
Multiple Braves legends lost in May
Horner's years spent in Atlanta overlapped with former manager Bobby Cox, who died May 9 at the age of 84, and former Braves owner Ted Turner, who died just three days earlier on May 6 at the age of 87.
Following a losing season for the Atlanta Braves before Horner was drafted (they went 67-94), Turner purchased the team in January 1976.
"I don't want to see any more headlines calling Atlanta 'Loserville U.S.A.' I want to see Winnersville U.S.A.," Turner said at a press conference following the purchase, according to ESPN.
Cox joined the team in November 1977, not long after Turner purchased the Braves.
He led the team to what the MLB called "unprecedented success" through 14 straight division titles between 1991 and 2005, 5 NL pennants and ultimately the 1995 World Series Championship.
Cox, Turner honored at Braves game
Displays and nods to the two Braves legends are already in place around Truist Park and on the gear of the team. A "6" is now printed on the back of players hats to honor Cox, and they will be in place for the rest of the season.
Turner is honored with a "17" jersey, referencing a 1976 marketing move by Turner where Atlanta Braves pitcher Andy Messersmith wore the number of the television station (WTCG-TV, Channel 17 in Atlanta) owned by the future media giant. Cox was assigned the "6" jersey, but it later became synonymous with the manager, and was retired as a number for the Braves organization following his retirement.
Irene Wright is the Atlanta Connect reporter with USA Today’s Deep South Connect team. Find her on X @IreneEWright or email her at [email protected].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Braves organization loses third baseball legend with Bob Horner's death
Continue reading...
