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Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Walt Horn served as trainer 4 decades: Baseball Profiles

Walt Horn 1990 Tacoma Tigers card

Oakland Athletics assistant trainer Walt Horn retired in 2016 after essentially a lifetime not only in baseball, but with the same Athletics organization, all 39 years, MLB.com wrote.

Horn had long been a minor league trainer for the Athletics then got his major league shot in 2008, MLB.com wrote.

"Walt has been an integral part of our organization for four decades," A's Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations Billy Beane told MLB.com. "He has had a positive influence on thousands of ballplayers both on and off the field."

Horn's career as a trainer began with the Athletics in 1978, having graduated from Boise State University.

Horn worked at AA Waterbury in 1979, New Haven in 1982 and AAA Tacoma by 1984. In 1989, Horn was described on his card back as "regarded as one of the most efficient and capable trainers in the Pacific Coast League."

Late in 1990, he had his hands full with Tacoma dealing with a rash of injuries, along with other teams in the organization, The Tacoma Morning News wrote.

"All the teams have been hit hard, at least in our organization," Horn told The Morning News.

Horn stayed at AAA with the Athletics through 2007, before joining the big club in Oakland.

In 2000, one of his players looked to Horn on getting back healthy, The Sacramento Bee wrote.

"It's up to (trainer Walt Horn)," Abad told The Bee of his return. "I won't try to rush back. If it means five or six games ... I want to be healthy for the playoffs."

Walt Horn 1990 Tacoma Tigers card


1990 Minor League Tally 
Players/Coaches Featured:4,371
Made the Majors:1,409-32.2%-X
Never Made Majors:2,962-67.8%
5+ Seasons in the Majors:574
10+ Seasons in the Minors:354

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