Bob Horner Autographed 1982 Donruss #173 Atlanta Braves Card

This Bob Horner autographed 1982 Donruss #173 Atlanta Braves baseball card features one of the National League's most feared power hitters of the late 1970s and 1980s. Known for his powerful right-handed swing and ability to drive the baseball out of any ballpark, Horner became a cornerstone of the Atlanta Braves lineup during an important period in franchise history. His authentic autograph adds collectible appeal to this classic early Donruss release, combining an Atlanta Braves baseball card with the signature of a 1978 National League Rookie of the Year, 1982 National League All-Star, and one of the few players in Major League history to hit four home runs in a single game.

James Robert Bob Horner was born on August 6, 1957, in Junction City, Kansas, and developed into one of the nation's most highly regarded young baseball players.

Horner attended Arizona State University, where he established himself as an exceptional college hitter with tremendous power.

During his collegiate career, he helped lead Arizona State to the 1977 College World Series championship, further establishing his reputation as one of the country's premier amateur players.

In 1978, Horner received the inaugural Golden Spikes Award, recognizing him as the nation's outstanding amateur baseball player.

His remarkable collegiate accomplishments made him one of the most highly anticipated prospects entering professional baseball.

The Atlanta Braves selected Horner with the first overall pick in the 1978 Major League Baseball Draft, recognizing his extraordinary offensive potential.

Rather than spending time developing in the minor leagues, Horner made the unusual jump directly from college baseball to the Major Leagues.

He made his Major League debut with the Atlanta Braves on June 16, 1978, beginning a career that would establish him as one of the National League's most recognizable power hitters.

Horner made an immediate impression by hitting a home run in his first Major League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

His powerful swing and ability to produce runs quickly made him an exciting addition to Atlanta's lineup.

Despite joining the Braves after the season had already begun, Horner delivered an outstanding rookie campaign.

He finished the 1978 season with a .266 batting average, 23 home runs, and 63 runs batted in.

His impressive performance earned him the 1978 National League Rookie of the Year Award, establishing him as one of baseball's brightest young stars.

The accomplishment was particularly remarkable because Horner had reached the Major Leagues directly from college without playing in the minor leagues.

Horner continued developing into one of the National League's premier power hitters during the following seasons.

In 1979, he hit 33 home runs, demonstrating the tremendous power that would become his trademark.

His ability to drive the baseball over the fences made him a constant threat in the middle of Atlanta's batting order.

The 1980 season became another outstanding offensive year, as Horner batted .268 with 35 home runs and 89 runs batted in.

His impressive power production helped establish him among the National League's most dangerous sluggers.

The Braves featured recognizable players such as Dale Murphy, Phil Niekro, Chris Chambliss, Glenn Hubbard, and Claudell Washington during portions of this era.

Horner's presence in the lineup provided Atlanta with a powerful offensive weapon capable of changing the outcome of a game with one swing.

The 1981 season was interrupted by the Major League Baseball players' strike, limiting the number of games played throughout the league.

Despite the shortened schedule, Horner continued contributing as one of Atlanta's most important offensive players.

The 1982 season became one of the most memorable years in Braves history.

Under manager Joe Torre, Atlanta opened the season with an extraordinary 13 consecutive victories, establishing a Major League record for the longest winning streak to begin a season at that time.

The Braves continued playing outstanding baseball throughout the year, competing for the National League West Division championship.

Horner played an important role in the team's success, providing power and run production in the middle of the lineup.

He finished the season with 32 home runs and 97 runs batted in, helping Atlanta capture the 1982 National League West Division title.

His strong performance earned him his first and only National League All-Star selection.

The Braves advanced to the 1982 National League Championship Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Although Atlanta lost the series, the division championship represented an important accomplishment for the organization.

Horner's contributions helped establish him as one of the central figures in Atlanta's successful early-1980s teams.

He continued producing impressive power numbers during the following seasons, although injuries occasionally limited his playing time.

In 1983, Horner hit 20 home runs, maintaining his reputation as a dangerous offensive player.

His ability to drive the baseball with tremendous force remained one of his defining characteristics.

The 1985 season represented another productive campaign, as Horner hit 27 home runs while contributing to Atlanta's offense.

One of the most extraordinary accomplishments of Horner's career occurred on July 6, 1986, during a game against the Montreal Expos.

Horner hit four home runs in a single game, becoming one of the few players in Major League Baseball history to accomplish the remarkable feat.

Despite his historic performance, the Braves lost the game to Montreal by a score of 11-8.

The four-home-run game remains one of the most memorable individual performances in Atlanta Braves history.

Horner finished the 1986 season with 27 home runs, concluding his first stint with Atlanta.

Following the season, he pursued an opportunity to play professionally in Japan.

Horner joined the Yakult Swallows for the 1987 season, bringing his powerful hitting ability to Japanese professional baseball.

His arrival generated considerable attention because of his established reputation as a Major League power hitter.

Horner enjoyed a productive season in Japan, hitting 31 home runs in 93 games.

His impressive offensive performance demonstrated that his power translated successfully to international competition.

Horner returned to Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1988, concluding his Major League career.

Across 10 Major League seasons, he recorded 1,047 hits, 218 home runs, and 685 runs batted in.

His accomplishments included the 1978 National League Rookie of the Year Award, a National League All-Star selection, and membership in the exclusive group of players who have hit four home runs in a single Major League game.

For Atlanta Braves fans who followed the organization during the late 1970s and 1980s, Horner remains one of the franchise's most recognizable power hitters.

The 1982 Donruss #173 Bob Horner card belongs to an important period in the history of modern baseball card collecting.

Donruss entered the modern baseball card market in 1981, joining Fleer in challenging Topps' longtime dominance of nationally distributed baseball cards.

The company's early releases became recognizable among collectors for their distinctive designs and expanding representation of Major League players.

The 1982 Donruss baseball set features colorful borders, prominent player photography, and the distinctive presentation associated with the company's early baseball card releases.

The set includes numerous established Major League stars, future Hall of Famers, and notable young players.

Among its most recognizable cards is the Cal Ripken Jr. rookie card #405, one of the important rookie cards of the early 1980s.

Horner's #173 Atlanta Braves card captures the powerful young slugger during the early stages of his career, before his outstanding 1982 All-Star season and Atlanta's National League West Division championship.

The card represents a period when Horner was establishing himself as one of the National League's premier home run hitters.

For Atlanta Braves collectors, Horner remains closely associated with the team's successful early-1980s era and its memorable 1982 division championship.

For 1982 Braves collectors, his autograph represents one of the team's most important offensive contributors.

For Japanese baseball collectors, Horner's successful season with the Yakult Swallows provides an additional connection to international professional baseball.

For collectors assembling comprehensive Bob Horner player collections, the 1982 Donruss #173 provides a classic early-career issue alongside his Topps, Fleer, Donruss, Score, and other baseball cards.

The addition of Horner's autograph enhances the collectible appeal of this Donruss release, combining an early-1980s Atlanta Braves baseball card with the signature of a former National League Rookie of the Year and one of the game's most memorable power hitters.

Signature obtained through a private signing conducted by Under the Radar Sports Promotions and guaranteed to pass any third-party authentication service.

This autographed Bob Horner card is an excellent addition to collections featuring Atlanta Braves memorabilia, 1982 Donruss baseball cards, Bob Horner player collections, 1978 National League Rookie of the Year winners, 1982 Braves National League West champions, four-home-run game memorabilia, St. Louis Cardinals autographs, Yakult Swallows baseball history, and signed 1980s baseball cards.