Rico Carty, former star outfielder for the Atlanta Braves who played for 15 years in Major League Baseball, has died. The Players and Teams Association said Sunday he was 85 years old.
A family friend told the Dominican Republic’s Listin Diario that he died Saturday night in an Atlanta hospital.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS NEWS ON FOXNEWS.COM
“Carty was one of the first Latino stars in the major leagues, and he has established himself as a hero to millions in his native Dominican Republic, San Pedro de Macoris. and the city of Atlanta which he is a big fan of Favored,” the players association said in a statement.
The Braves added that Carty left an indelible mark on the organization.
“Whilst his achievements on the field will never be forgotten, But his unforgettable smile and generous nature will be sorely missed,” the team said in a statement.
AARON JUDGE IGNORES JUAN SOTO GOT BIGGER CONTRACT FROM YANKEES: ‘IT’S NOT MY MONEY’
Carty started with the Milwaukee Braves in 1963 and played full time through the 1964 season. He finished second in National Rookie of the Year voting. He played with the Braves until 1972.
In 1970, he made his first and only All-Star team. He captured the batting average with a .366 average and led the majors with a .454 on-base percentage.
He then played for several other teams including the Texas Rangers, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics, Cleveland Indians, and Toronto Blue Jays.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
He hit 204 home runs and drove in 890 runs in 1,651 major league games. He batted .299 for his career.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.