Rico Carty, who won the National League batting title in 1970 when he hit a major league-best .366 for the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85 years old.
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 in an Atlanta hospital.
“Carty was one of the first groundbreaking Latin stars in the major leagues and established himself as a hero to millions of people in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macorís and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan. favorite,” the players association said in its 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 its statement.
Carty made his major league debut with the Braves in September 1963. He hit .330 with 22 home runs and 88 runs batted in in his first full season in 1964, finishing second to Dick Allen in voting for the NBA’s Rookie of the Year. National League.
The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty had the franchise’s first hit in its new home on April 12, 1966, against Pittsburgh.
Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 home runs and a career-high 101 RBI. He started the All-Star Game after being selected as a write-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the National League outfield.
Carty hit .299 with 204 home runs 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.