By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-11-24 18:08:32 | Updated at 2024-11-24 20:25:19
2 hours ago
Major League Baseball legend Rico Carty has passed away at age 85 after a two-week hospital stay with intestinal ailments.
Carty was taken to an Atlanta hospital for the issues by his children, where he stayed since being admitted.
Carty played in the MLB for the better part of the 1960s and 1970s and may be best known for his time with the Braves.
He played for the franchise in Milwaukee and Atlanta from 1963 to 1972, with his only All-Star game appearance happening in 1970.
Carty was MLB's batting average leader at .366 that season, and started for the National League in the All-Star outfield alongside Willie Mays and Hank Aaron.
The Braves confirmed Carty's passing on Sunday morning.
Baseball legend Rico Carty has died at age 85 after suffering intestinal ailments for two weeks
Carty was inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame last year and played for the team for 10 years
'Few players in franchise history connected with Braves fans like Rico Carty,' a team statement read. 'A fan-favorite almost instantly after the club arrived in Atlanta from Milwaukee in 1966, Rico left an indelible mark on the Braves organization.'
Carty is viewed as one of the forefathers of baseball players to make the jump from the Dominican Republic to the Major Leagues.
The MLB put out a statement as well on Carty's passing.
'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. His popularity was so great, Carty earned a nod to the 1970 All-Star Game as a write-in candidate and joined Hank Aaron and Willie Mays in the starting outfield.'
After moving on from the Braves, Carty was the first starting designated hitter for the Texas Rangers.
He was traded twice during the 1973 season, first to the Cubs, where he had locker-room disagreements with star Ron Santo strong enough where Chicago dealt him to Oakland.
Carty played in the winter leagues in the Dominican Republic to go alongside with his time in the MLB.
His hitting prowess gave him another shot in America in 1974 with Cleveland, where he stayed for four seasons.
Carty retired at age 40 after two stints with the Toronto Blue Jays.
Carty's passing comes two months after the death of Osvaldo Virgil, the first Dominican player to make an MLB roster.
