Rico Carty, a baseball legend who played for the Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves, died last weekend at the age of 85.
Carty played for the Braves from 1963 to 1972, winning the National League batter's title in 1970 with a major league-best batting average of .366.
Liston Diario reports He died Saturday night at an Atlanta hospital. Daily Mail reported He had been hospitalized for the past two weeks with an intestinal illness.
“Few players in franchise history have been as connected to Braves fans as Rico Carty. An almost instant fan favorite when the club arrived in Atlanta from Milwaukee in 1966, Rico was an indelible part of the Braves organization. He left his mark,” the team said in a statement. “His accomplishments on the field will never be forgotten, but his unforgettable smile and generous personality will be sorely missed. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends, and many fans around the world. I send my condolences.”
Carty will be inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame in 2023 and made his major league debut with the Braves in September 1963.
He batted .330 with 22 home runs and 88 RBIs, finishing second in the 1964 National League Rookie of the Year voting.
“Carty was one of the first breakthrough Latino stars in Major League Baseball, and was loved by millions in his hometown of the Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris, and the city of Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan. “He has established himself as a hero,” the Major League Baseball Players Association said in a statement.
Carty's 15-year major league career included time with Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs before retiring in 1979.
Carty also had the distinction of becoming the first Braves player to record a hit after moving to Atlanta, on April 12, 1966, against the Pirates.
