Rico Carty, who won the 1970 NL batting title when he hit a 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 Sunday. A family friend told Listín Diario, a newspaper in Carty’s native Dominican Republic, that he died in an Atlanta hospital.
“Carty was one of the first pioneering Latino stars in the major leagues and established himself as a hero in his native Dominican Republic, hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and in Atlanta, where he was a fan favorite. favorite,” the players’ association said in a statement.
The Braves said Carty left an indelible mark on the organization.
“While his accomplishments on the field will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed,” the team said in a statement.
Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. In his first full season in 1964, he batted .330 with 22 homers and 88 RBI, finishing second to Dick Allen in NL Rookie of the Year voting.
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.
Carty had his best year in 1970 when he hit .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBI. The All-Star game began after he was selected as a draft candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL backfield.
Carty batted .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBI over 15 years in the majors, also playing for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season.