Rico Carty, 1970 NL batting champion with Braves, dies at 85

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.

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 Saturday night in an Atlanta hospital.

“Carty was one of the first breakthrough 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 a statement.

The Braves said Carty left an indelible mark on the organization.

“While his achievements on the field will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous spirit will be sorely missed,” the team said in its statement.

The Atlanta Braves mourn the death of Braves Hall of Famer Rico Carty: pic.twitter.com/zdMPzCDk1u

– Atlanta Braves (@Braves) November 24, 2024

Carty made his big league debut with the Braves in September 1963. In his first full season in 1964, he batted .330 with 22 home runs and 88 RBIs, finishing second to Dick in voting for NL Rookie of the Year Allen.

The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty scored the franchise’s first goal in their new home against Pittsburgh on April 12, 1966.

Carty had his best year in 1970, when he batted .366 with 25 home runs and a career-best 101 RBIs. He started the All-Star Game after being selected as a write-in candidate and joined Willie Mays and Hank Aaron in the NL outfield.

He batted .299 with 204 home runs and 890 RBIs over 15 years in the majors and also played for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season.