| Rico Carty | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Left fielder | |
| Born:(1939-09-01)September 1, 1939 Consuelo, San Pedro de Macorís,Dominican Republic | |
| Died: November 23, 2024(2024-11-23) (aged 85) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| September 15, 1963, for the Milwaukee Braves | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| September 23, 1979, for the Toronto Blue Jays | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Batting average | .299 |
| Home runs | 204 |
| Runs batted in | 890 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Ricardo Adolfo Jacobo Carty (September 1, 1939 – November 23, 2024), nicknamed "Beeg Boy", was aDominican former professionalbaseball player. He played inMajor League Baseball as anoutfielder from 1963 to 1979, most prominently as a member of theAtlanta Braves where he helped the franchise win its first National League Western Division title in1969. Carty had a careerbatting average of .299 and, was the 1970National League (NL)batting champion with a .366 batting average. He earned his starting role in the1970 All-Star Game as a write-in candidate.[1]
Carty also played for theChicago Cubs,Oakland Athletics,Cleveland Indians,Toronto Blue Jays andTexas Rangers. He was one of the earliest Dominicans to play in the major leagues; however, his career was marked by battles with injuries, illnesses (tuberculosis) and teammates.[2] In 1996, Carty was inducted into theCaribbean Baseball Hall of Fame as part of their inaugural class, and in 2023 he was inducted into theBraves Hall of Fame.[3][4]
Carty represented theDominican Republic at the1959 Pan American Games.[5][6] He signed a contract with theMilwaukee Braves as afree agent in1959.[7] While he was considered an excellent hitter, he had poor defensive skills.[8] Originally acatcher, Carty converted to an outfielder to lessen his defensive liabilities and to get his bat into the everyday lineup.[8]
After four years in theminor leagues, Carty made his major league debut in1964, finishing with a .330batting average, second toRoberto Clemente in theNational League. He was the runner-up toDick Allen in the National LeagueRookie of the Year Award ballot.[9][10] Carty holds the distinction of being the first Braves player to record a hit after the franchise moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta in a game against the Pirates on April 12, 1966.[11]
Carty hit over .300 for three consecutive seasons, then faltered in1967, slumping to a .255 batting average in part due to aseparated shoulder.[8] Carty then missed the entire1968 season due totuberculosis.[8] He recovered in1969 with a .342 batting average (in 104 games and 304 at-bats), helping the Braves win theNational League West title, the franchise's first postseason berth since the1958 World Series. Carty finished 13th in the National LeagueMost Valuable Player Award voting.[1][12][13] The Braves would eventually lose to the"Miracle" Mets in the1969 National League Championship Series.[14]
In1970, Carty hit 25home runs with 101runs batted in (RBIs) and won the National Leaguebatting title with a .366 batting average, the highest average in the major leagues sinceTed Williams recorded a .388 batting average in 1957.[15] Despite not appearing on theAll-Star ballot, he was voted to be a starting outfielder for the National League as a write-in candidate in the1970 All-Star Game, playing alongsideHank Aaron andWillie Mays in the outfield.[16][17] It would be the only All-Star appearance of his career.
Carty also compiled a 31-gamehitting streak in 1970, the longest by a Braves hitter in the franchise'sAtlanta history untilDan Uggla surpassed it in 2011 with a 33-game streak. Carty was namedNL Player of the Month for May with a .448 batting average, seven home runs, and 22 RBIs. He finished 10th in the 1970 National League Most Valuable Player Award voting.[8][18] On May 31, Carty hit 3 home runs against the Phillies, going 4-for-4 with six RBIs in a 9–1 rout of the Phillies.[19]
A knee injury suffered during theDominican Winter Baseball season meant Carty would miss another entire season in1971.[2] He returned in1972 but only managed a .277 batting average. By then, Carty had worn out his welcome with the Braves management as well as his teammates, having been involved in fights with Hank Aaron andRon Reed.[2]
Carty was traded from the Braves to theTexas Rangers forJim Panther on October 27, 1972.[20] Carty was expected to fill the role of the newly adopteddesignated hitter, but he batted only .232 before being traded in mid-season to theChicago Cubs.[21] While with the Cubs, he had a personality clash with star third basemanRon Santo, leading the team to trade Carty to theOakland Athletics one month later.[7][21] After a combined .229 batting average for the three teams, Carty was released by the Athletics in December 1973, and it seemed as if his career might be over.[1]
In 1974, Carty signed to play with theCafeteros de Córdoba in theMexican Baseball League.[22] In August1974, theCleveland Indians signed him to be their designated hitter.[22] Carty's career was rejuvenated with Cleveland, posting a .308 batting average with 64 RBIs in the1975 season and improving to a .310 batting average with 83 RBIs in1976.[1] In1977, his batting average dropped to .280, but he still drove in 80 runs.[1]
The Indians traded Carty to theToronto Blue Jays forDennis DeBarr on March 15,1978.[23] His time with the Blue Jays lasted five months before he was sent to theOakland Athletics forWillie Horton andPhil Huffman on August 15, 1978.[24] At the age of 39, he hit for a combined .282 average with 31 home runs and 99 RBIs.[1] After being grantedfree agency in November 1978, he signed a contract to play for the Blue Jays, hitting .256 with 12 home runs and 55 RBIs in 132 games before retiring at the end of1979 at the age of 40.[1]
In a fifteen-year major league career, Carty played in 1,651games, accumulating 1,677hits in 5,606at bats for a .299 career batting average along with 204 home runs, 890 runs batted in, .369on-base percentage and .464slugging percentage.[1] He ended his career with a .974fielding percentage.[1] During his career, he played as a catcher,first baseman,third baseman, outfielder and designated hitter.
As apinch hitter, Carty was effective, going 41-134 (.306) in 158 pinch-hitting appearances with 4 home runs and 38 RBI in his MLB career.[25]
One of the early major leaguers out of the baseball-rich Dominican Republic, Carty was committed to helping the developing nation. In the 1964–65 off-season, as the country reeled between rapid governmental transitions and militarism, he undertook a trip withCatholic Relief Services to his home country, on a mission to deliver clothing and supplies.[26]
Carty died in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 23, 2024, at the age of 85.[27][28][29]
In 1996 he gained induction into theCaribbean Baseball Hall of Fame as part of their first class.[30]
Carty was inducted into theBraves Hall of Fame on August 19, 2023.[31]
| Preceded by | Major League Player of the Month May 1970 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |