| 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 professional baseball player. He played inMajor League Baseball as anoutfielder from 1963 to 1979, most prominently as a member of theAtlanta Braves. He had the first hit for the team in their first game in Atlanta on April 12, 1965.[1] In1969, he helped the franchise win its first National League Western Division title. Carty had a careerbatting average of .299, most notably hitting .366 to become the 1970National League (NL)batting champion (the first Brave to do so in eleven years) while also garnering him a start at the1970 All-Star Game as a write-in candidate.[2] 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.[2] He ended his career with a .974fielding percentage.[2] During his career, he played as a catcher,first baseman,third baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter.
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.[3] 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.[4][5]
Carty represented theDominican Republic at the1959 Pan American Games.[6][7] He signed a contract with theMilwaukee Braves as afree agent in1959.[8] While he was considered an excellent hitter, he had poor defensive skills.[9] Originally acatcher, Carty converted to an outfielder to lessen his defensive liabilities and to get his bat into the everyday lineup.[9]
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.[10][11]
Carty continued to hit over .300 for the next three seasons, then faltered in1967, slumping to a .255 batting average in part due to aseparated shoulder.[9] Carty then missed the entire1968 season due totuberculosis.[9] 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.[2][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.[9][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.[3] 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.[3]
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.[8][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.[2]
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.[2] In1977, his batting average dropped to .280, but he still drove in 80 runs.[2]
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.[2] 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.[2]
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.[25]
Carty died in Atlanta, Georgia, on November 23, 2024, at the age of 85.[26][27][28]
In 1996 he gained induction into theCaribbean Baseball Hall of Fame as part of their first class.[29]
Carty was inducted into theBraves Hall of Fame on August 19, 2023.[30]
| Preceded by | Major League Player of the Month May 1970 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |