Bob Horner---1982
“You know what would be good right
about now? I’m thinking a bucket of
chicken and a box of doughnuts.”
Bob Horner appears to be in a
reflective mood in this card, and
there’s no question the power-hitting
third baseman liked tying on the feed-
bag. His constant battle when it came
to tipping the Toledoes led the
Atlanta Braves to put a weight clause
in his contract. Of course, when you
have more money than the average
bear, those Friday afternoon weigh-
ins have a way of going in the player’
s favor when the trainer is slipped a
few bucks for his troubles.
Aside from his battle of the bulge,
Horner’s greatest problems centered
on nagging injuries. When healthy,
he was among the most feared
hitters in the National League.
Signed to a $175,000 bonus 30
years ago, Horner went straight from
the Arizona State campus to the
Atlanta starting lineup with impressive
ease. He hit a home run in his first
major league game and proceeded
to win NL Rookie of the Year honors
in 1978 despite playing only half the
season for a last-place team. In 89
outings that year, he batted .266 with
23 home runs and 63 RBIs in 323 at-
bats.
Though slow afoot, Horner had good
quickness for his size and defended
the hot corner with aplomb through
his first seven seasons. Always a
slow starter, he usually caught fire as
the weather warmed. The dead pull
hitter was capable of carrying the
Braves’ offense on his back, and
combined with the powerful presence
of two-time MVP Dale Murphy,
produced as formidable a one-two
punch as any in baseball. His biggest
day came on July 6, 1986, when he
swatted four home runs against the
Montreal Expos at Atlanta Fulton
County Stadium. Horner was
rewarded with an All-Star invite in
1982 and concluded his days on the
diamond with a .277 batting average,
218 home runs and 685 RBIs in
1,020 games.
(5/30/08)
about now? I’m thinking a bucket of
chicken and a box of doughnuts.”
Bob Horner appears to be in a
reflective mood in this card, and
there’s no question the power-hitting
third baseman liked tying on the feed-
bag. His constant battle when it came
to tipping the Toledoes led the
Atlanta Braves to put a weight clause
in his contract. Of course, when you
have more money than the average
bear, those Friday afternoon weigh-
ins have a way of going in the player’
s favor when the trainer is slipped a
few bucks for his troubles.
Aside from his battle of the bulge,
Horner’s greatest problems centered
on nagging injuries. When healthy,
he was among the most feared
hitters in the National League.
Signed to a $175,000 bonus 30
years ago, Horner went straight from
the Arizona State campus to the
Atlanta starting lineup with impressive
ease. He hit a home run in his first
major league game and proceeded
to win NL Rookie of the Year honors
in 1978 despite playing only half the
season for a last-place team. In 89
outings that year, he batted .266 with
23 home runs and 63 RBIs in 323 at-
bats.
Though slow afoot, Horner had good
quickness for his size and defended
the hot corner with aplomb through
his first seven seasons. Always a
slow starter, he usually caught fire as
the weather warmed. The dead pull
hitter was capable of carrying the
Braves’ offense on his back, and
combined with the powerful presence
of two-time MVP Dale Murphy,
produced as formidable a one-two
punch as any in baseball. His biggest
day came on July 6, 1986, when he
swatted four home runs against the
Montreal Expos at Atlanta Fulton
County Stadium. Horner was
rewarded with an All-Star invite in
1982 and concluded his days on the
diamond with a .277 batting average,
218 home runs and 685 RBIs in
1,020 games.
(5/30/08)
