Rico Carty, who won the 1970 Dutch League title with the Atlanta Braves, has died

Rico Carty, who won the NL batting championship in 1970 by hitting a league-leading .366 with the Atlanta Braves, has died. He was 85 years old.

Major League Baseballthe players’ association and the Braves paid tribute to Carty on social media on Sunday. No further details were released about Carty’s death.

“Carty was one of the first breakout Latino stars in the major leagues and became known as a hero to millions of people in his native Dominican Republic, his hometown of San Pedro de Macoris and Atlanta, where he was a beloved fan favorite,” the players’ association said. in his statement.

The Braves said Carty was gone an indelible mark on the organization.

“While his achievements on the pitch will never be forgotten, his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be greatly missed,” the team said in a statement.

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

The Braves moved from Milwaukee to Atlanta after the 1965 season, and Carty had the team’s first hit in his new home on April 12, 1966 against Pittsburgh.

Carty had his best year in 1970, batting .366 with 25 homers and a career-best 101 RBI. He started the All-Star Game after being selected as a buy-in candidate, joining Willie Mays and Hank Aaron on the NL field.

Carty hit .299 with 204 homers and 890 RBI over 15 years in the major leagues, also playing for Cleveland, Toronto, Oakland, Texas and the Chicago Cubs. He retired after the 1979 season.

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