Between 1976 and 1978, ASU would produce 3 future stars at Packard Stadium. The first
and biggest was future Atlanta Braves slugger Bob Horner. Horner would soon
become legendary at ASU as his big bat not only slammed the most home runs in
Packard Stadium history, but he would hit over .400 as well. After hitting
9 HR in his freshman season, Horner would slam 22 in 1976 and 25 in 1978 giving
him 56 HR total in his 3 years at Packard Stadium… the most |
ever by any alumni to wear a Sun Devils uniform. Horner would also bat .412 in 1978
and because of his incredible exploits on the field… the Sun Devils would make
it to the College World Series in Omaha, in every season that Horner played
for ASU. Bob Horner would go on to become one of the most feared sluggers in Major
League Baseball and one of the only players in Baseball history to go right
from college to the Major Leagues, skipping the Minors altogether. From the Sun
Devils to the Atlanta Braves, Horner would hit 23 HR in his first season. By
his sophomore year in the Majors, Horner would have a breakout year hitting .314
with 33 HR and by 1981, Horner was up to 35 HR on the year. Horner would
again break the 30 HR mark in 1982 when he hit 32 bombs for Atlanta and was tabbed
for the All-Star game. Horner would finish up his career in Japan playing
as a hired gun for the Yakult Swallows. In his final full professional season,
Horner would again bang out 31 HR and 73 RBI while hitting .327 for Yakult. |