Super Sky Point to Bob Horner. He was the NL Rookie of the Year and an All-Star but if you were around back then you know he was more than that. Much more. He was a fixture in the homes of millions of us through the miracle of cable television during those epic childhood summers that seemed like they’d never end.
I was a fan for over 40 years but had never met Bob until I interviewed him last December about Dale Murphy’s Hall of Fame case. As you’d expect, Bob was a fierce advocate for his fellow Fulton County basher. How could he not be? They were Murph and Horner. Horner and Murph. The Hall and Oates of the Launching Pad.
You know, these sky points all suck to write but this one hurts more than most. The four-homer game, the bad perm, Chief Noc-A-Homa waiting by his teepee for another Horner long ball. I have tweeted a lot about Bob Horner through the years and it’s because he represents to me, and I suspect many of you too, something far bigger than baseball: WTBS coming out of the magic box on top of my 400-pound Zenith, cool air coming through my bedroom window after another afternoon of Wiffle Ball, and Rick Mahler (probably) toeing the rubber at about 7:05 while hoping to keep the Braves in it with smoke and mirrors long enough for Horner and Murph to do some damage. And me sprawled out on green and yellow shag carpet in Kentucky paying 100 times more attention to Skip Caray, Ernie Johnson, and Pete Van Wieren than any of my teachers.
Farewell, you sweet slugging bastard. Tell St. Peter you brought your glove for the hot corner and to write you into the cleanup spot. #RIP
The Hall of Fame Era Committee meets this Sunday, December 7th. Dale Murphy needs 12 of 16 votes. You never know who will see this and their vote may be the one that puts Murph over the top. Please retweet if you love Murph and believe he deserves to be honored in Cooperstown.
Home run derby announcers in 2025: "With a launch angle to 46 degrees and a bat speed of 103, he hit that ball 476 feet."
Home run derby of my youth: "BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK BACK"
There are very few combinations of words in the English language that warrant ejecting a coach from an elimination game in the Men's College World Series finals. And yet Coastal Carolina's Kevin Schnall -- and first-base coach Matt Schilling -- just got run in the first inning.
George Strait was born 73 years ago today in Poteet, Texas.
In honor of his birthday, I've put together this scientific chart to help all the country music fans out there:
Congratulations to @boydmaynard12 for being chosen to play in this year’s North/South All-Star game. Very well deserved! The game will be held at Riley Park in Sumpter June 3-4. Looking forward to Boyd representing BHP Baseball!