By The Associated Press
(Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press)
Rico Carty, who on the 1970 National League batting title when he led the major leagues while hitting .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85.
Major League Baseball, the MLB 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 MLBPA said in its statement.
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 MLB debut with the Braves in September 1963. He batted .330 with 22 home runs 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 the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the MLB All-Star Game after he was elected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays of the San Francisco Giants and fellow Atlanta slugger Hank Aaron in the NL outfield.
Carty batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors, also playing for the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays.
He retired after the 1979 season.
