A legendary baseball player and 1970 National League batting champion, Rico Carty passed away at 85. Known for his exceptional hitting skills and contributions to the Atlanta Braves, Carty left an enduring legacy in baseball. His passing marks the end of an era for baseball fans who admired his talent and dedication to the sport.
Rico Carty, who achieved the National League batting title in 1970 with a remarkable .366 average for the Atlanta Braves, has passed away at the age of 85.
On Sunday, Major League Baseball, the players’ association, and the Braves honored Carty through social media. A family friend informed Listín Diario, a publication from Carty’s homeland of the Dominican Republic, that he succumbed to his illness on Saturday night in an Atlanta hospital.
The players’ association remarked, “Carty was among the pioneering Latino stars in Major League Baseball, becoming a hero to countless individuals in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and in Atlanta, where he was cherished by fans.”
The Braves organization expressed that Carty’s legacy will remain significant within the franchise.
“Although his achievements on the field will always be remembered, his radiant smile and kind spirit will be profoundly missed,” the team stated.
Carty made his major league debut with the Braves in September 1963. In his first full season in 1964, he achieved a batting average of .330, hitting 22 home runs and driving in 88 runs, which earned him a second-place finish in the National League Rookie of the Year voting, behind Dick Allen.
Following the 1965 season, the Braves relocated from Milwaukee to Atlanta, where Carty recorded the franchise’s inaugural hit in its new city on April 12, 1966, against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Carty experienced his most outstanding season in 1970, posting a batting average of .366, along with 25 home runs and a career-high 101 RBIs. He was selected as a write-in candidate to start in the All-Star Game, joining the legendary Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the National League outfield.
Over the course of 15 years in Major League Baseball, Carty maintained a batting average of .299, accumulating 204 home runs and 890 RBIs. His career also included stints with Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas, and the Chicago Cubs. He concluded his playing career after the 1979 season.
