Bob Horner, the former National League Rookie of the Year whose thunderous bat provided a brief but memorable presence in a Cardinals uniform during the twilight of his career, died Tuesday at the age of 68.
Though best remembered by many for his star turns with the Atlanta Braves, Horner spent the final chapter of his major league journey in St. Louis in 1988, stepping in after the departure of slugger Jack Clark. For a fan base that has long appreciated power hitters who could change a game in a single swing, Horner represented one last flash of the prodigious talent that once made him one of the most exciting young players in baseball.
James Robert Horner was born August 6, 1957, in Junction City, Kansas. After a standout career at Arizona State University — where he earned College World Series MVP honors and the first-ever Golden Spikes Award — the Braves made him the No. 1 overall pick in the 1978 draft. He skipped the minors and immediately delivered, batting .266 with 23 home runs in just 89 games to claim NL Rookie of the Year honors.
Over nine seasons with Atlanta, Horner established himself as a premier power threat, clubbing 218 of his 222 career home runs while teaming with Dale Murphy to give Braves fans on the early TBS superstation plenty to cheer about. He made the All-Star team in 1982 when Atlanta won the NL West, and on July 6, 1986, he authored one of the great single-game performances in baseball history, becoming just the 11th player ever to hit four home runs in a game.
Injuries, however, plagued much of his prime. After a season in Japan with the Yakult Swallows in 1987, Horner returned stateside and signed a one-year deal with the Cardinals in January 1988 to help replace the production lost when Clark signed with the Yankees. Many in St. Louis viewed the move with cautious optimism — Horner was still just 30 years old and possessed the kind of raw power Whitey Herzog’s clubs could always use.
Horner appeared in 60 games for the 1988 Cardinals, batting .257 with three home runs and 33 RBIs in 247 plate appearances. While his shoulder issues limited him and ultimately ended his season early, he provided veteran presence and occasional pop in a lineup that reached the NLCS that year. Though his Cardinals tenure was short, it capped a 10-year major league career that saw him finish with a .277 batting average, 218 home runs, and 685 RBIs.
Cardinals fans of that era will recall Horner as the last-chapter slugger who brought big-league pedigree to Busch Stadium for one final ride. In an era when the Cardinals emphasized speed, defense, and timely hitting under Herzog, Horner reminded everyone of the appeal of pure power — the kind that could clear the fences on a warm summer night along the Mississippi.
He is survived by his wife, Chris, and sons Tyler and Trent.
Baseball lost a talented player whose career was shortened by injury but defined by memorable moments and prodigious strength at the plate. Though his time in St. Louis was brief, Bob Horner will be remembered fondly by Cardinals fans as a veteran who gave what he had left in pursuit of one more October run in red and white. Rest in peace.
