Braves legend and batting champion Rico Carty dies at 85

MLB veteran Rico Carty died on Saturday night at the age of 85. After a two-week hospital stay in Atlanta, where he had been battling intestinal issues. Following his death, MLB released a statement on X on Sunday to honor his memory.

"We are saddened by the passing of 15-year MLB veteran Rico Carty. Carty spent 8 of his 15 years with the Braves. In his memorable 1970 season, Carty hit .366 to win the NL batting crown. It is still the highest mark in Braves modern-era franchise history," MLB wrote in the statement.

Born Ricardo Adolfo Jacobo Carty on Sep. 1, 1939, in Consuelo, San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic, Carty first gained attention for his performance with the Dominican Republic in the 1959 Pan American Games. Afterward, he received offers from several MLB teams. George Trautman, then president of the Minor Leagues, awarded Carty to the then-Milwaukee Braves, where he made history as one of the first Dominican-born players to play in the United States.

Carty made his debut for the Milwaukee Braves in 1963. He would spend eight seasons with the squad, remaining with them even after their relocation to Atlanta. In 1970, the outfielder was named to the National League All-Star team. and by the end of the year, he won the National League batting title after posting a .366 BA—the best by a Braves player in the modern era.

The Dominican-born star would then play sparingly for franchises such as the Rangers, Cubs, and Oakland Athletics, before spending a considerable portion of his time with the Cleveland Indians. He retired in 1979 after a 15-year career, which included a brief stint with the Toronto Blue Jays.

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Rico Carty's legacy

Rico Carty's importance to the city of Atlanta and Carribean baseball couldn't be overstated. Carty is a part of the Braves Hall of Fame, having been enshrined in 2023.

On August 5, 1971, then-Georgia governor (and eventually, United States president) Jimmy Carter announced "Rico Carty Day" in the state of Georgia for the outfielder's contributions to the team.

"Georgia Governor Jimmy Carter proclaiming August 5, 1971, as “Rico Carty Day” in the state of Georgia," @ Braves on WTBS tweeted.

In 1996, Carty was inducted into the first class of the Caribbean Baseball Hall of Fame alongside Negro World Series champion Willard Brown, Mexican Baseball Hall of Famer Hector Espino, and Cuban Baseball Hall of Famer Camilo Pascual.