Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title with the Atlanta Braves, dies at 85
(Original Caption) Two nominees to the All Star Team outfield are Hank Aaron (left) and Rico Carty. Aaron led the fan vote at 1,394,847 and Carty won with a write-in vote topped only by Giants Willie Mays.
ATLANTA - Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85.
Major League Baseball, the players’ association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. A family friend told Listín Diario — a newspaper in Carty’s native Dominican Republic — that he died Saturday night in an Atlanta hospital.
"Carty was one of the first groundbreaking Latino stars in the major leagues, and he established himself as a hero to millions in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan favorite," the players’ association said in its statement.
UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1966: Rico Carty #7 of the Atlanta Braves looks on during an Major League Baseball game circa 1966. Carty played for the Braves from 1963-72. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
The Braves said Carty left an indelible mark on the organization.
"While his on-field accomplishments will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed," the team said in its statement.
Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBIs in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for NL Rookie of the Year.
The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty got the franchise’s first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh.
ATLANTA, GA - AUGUST 19: Rico Carty speaks during the Atlanta Braves Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony before the game against the San Francisco Giants at Truist Park on August 19, 2023 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Matthew Grimes Jr./Atlanta Braves/G
Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game after he was elected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL outfield.
Carty batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors, also playing for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season.
The Source: This report was provided by the Associated Press.