Remembering Bob Horner: A Cheerful Tribute

The diamond shines beneath the summer sun,

A timeless stage where legends are begun.

From dusty parks to stadium lights that gleam,

The game remains our great, enduring dream.

Among the heroes of the Southern heat,

A golden slugger made the history sweet.

With number five upon his sturdy back,

The grandstands echoed with a thunder-crack.

That magic day, the ball began to fly,

Four times he launched it to the Georgia sky.

A rare and mighty feat of baseball lore,

That lives forever in the stadium roar.

Though stars must fade and seasons turn to spring,

The joy of Horner's swing will always ring.

A permanent pillar of the Braves' proud name,

Etched deeply in the fabric of the game.

It’s a day I’ll never forget. The summer heat peaked on July 6, 1986, at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium, casting long shadows over the field. In the stands, the atmosphere felt typical for a Sunday afternoon—until No. 5 stepped up to the plate. Bob Horner, with his powerful, burly frame and unmistakable swing, was about to pull off something legendary.

For those who watched the Braves on Ted Turner’s Superstation, Horner was more than just a third baseman. He embodied the spirit of an era. Selected as the number one overall draft pick out of Arizona State University, he skipped the minor leagues entirely. He hit a home run in his very first Major League game and locked down the National League Rookie of the Year award in 1978. Alongside Dale Murphy, he formed a dangerous, high-powered heart of the Atlanta lineup that kept fans glued to their television screens night after night.

On that particular July afternoon, the magic unfolded in spectacular fashion. Facing Montreal Expos starter Andy McGaffigan, Horner launched his first home run. Then came the second. By the time he connected for his third, the stadium was buzzing with anticipation. The final act arrived in the ninth inning against one of baseball’s top closers, Jeff Reardon. With a ferocious crack of the bat, Horner drove the ball over the wall for his fourth home run of the game, cementing his name alongside the elite few in baseball history to achieve the feat. True to the chaotic nature of 1980s Braves baseball, Atlanta actually lost the game 11-8, making it the only time in Major League history that a player hit four home runs and his team still came up short. Yet, nobody who left the park that day remembered the final score; they only remembered the greatness of Bob Horner.

His unexpected passing at the age of 68 leaves a profound quiet across the baseball world. For the fans who cheered from the stadium seats or watched the broadcast from afar, his legacy remains untarnished. Bob Horner built a career out of being first, and his remarkable achievements will forever hold a sacred place in Atlanta Braves lore.