Books and articles about Rico Carty

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High on any list of the great natural hitters, the powerful Dominican called himself "the Big Boy." In 1960, as a naive youngster, he signed ten pro contracts. When the mess was straightened out, he became the property of the Milwaukee Braves, who converted the slow-footed catcher into a poor outfielder. As a rookie in 1964 he hit .330, losing both the batting crown race (to Roberto Clemente) and the Rookie of the Year award (to Richie Allen). Tuberculosis sidelined him for the entire 1968 season; he spent five months in a sanitarium. Incredibly, he returned to hit .342 in 1969, despite seven shoulder dislocations. His .366 in 1970 (highest ML average since Ted Williams hit .388 in 1957) led the NL, and he started on the All-Star team as a write-in candidate. He broke his knee in a winter ball collision, costing him the 1971 season, and nearly his career. He was with three teams in 1973 and was playing in Mexico when the Indians signed him as a DH for 1974. His 31 home runs in 1978, with Toronto and Oakland, were a career high. (JCA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » December 24, 1959: The Braves sign Dominican star Rico Carty. » April 21, 1963: Yakima (Northwest League) C Rico Carty hits two home runs in one at bat. The rookie catcher's first blast is nullified because time had been called. » September 26, 1964: At Shibe Park, the Braves and Phillies set a major-league record by using 43 players in a 9-inning game. The Braves' 25 match the 9-inning high mark for National League clubs. Eight of the 25 are pitchers, tying a league mark, but still the stumbling Phils drop their 6th in a row 6–4. The topper is Rico Carty's 3-run triple in the top of the 9th against reliever Bobby Shantz, in for starter Art Mahaffey. Torre again has three hits for Milwaukee, which shaves the Phils' lead to a half-game. » July 3, 1967: At the launching pad in Atlanta, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, and Randy Hundley homer for Chicago, and Rico Carty and Felipe Alou answer for the Braves—all in the first inning, a major league record. Carty adds another homer later, but Glenn Beckert's three-run shot helps put the game out of reach. Ray Culp emerges the winner, 12–6. » May 4, 1970: Rico Carty sets an Atlanta club record hitting in his 23rd straight game as the Braves beat Pittsburgh, 5–3. » May 12, 1970: At Wrigley, Ernie Banks becomes the 8th member of the 500 home run club, connecting off Pat Jarvis during a 4–3 eleven-inning Cub win over the Braves. It his 1,600th career RBI. Frank Secory, an ex-Cub, is umpiring this game, and he was one of the umpires in the 1953 game in which Banks hit is first homer. Billy Williams' homer in the 9th ties the game and Ron Santo's RBI single in the 11th wins it. Atlanta's Rico Carty, meanwhile, has three singles and has hit in 30 consecutive games. » May 16, 1970: The Reds Jim McGlothin shuts out the Braves 2–0, stopping Rico Carty's 31-game hitting streak in the process. Carty batted .451 (51-for-113) during the streak, which started April 8th. » December 11, 1970: The Braves Rico Carty, the leading active ML hitter at .322 lifetime, suffers a fractured knee and ligament damage in a Dominican League game. Carty will miss the entire 1971 season. » August 24, 1971: Braves OF Rico Carty announces he has suffered permanent damage to his right eye from an altercation with three policemen in Atlanta. » April 22, 1972: The Braves smash five homers, including Aaron's first of the year and #640 of his career, in defeating the Reds, 11–7. Williams belts 2, and Brown and Rico Carty one apiece. » August 17, 1974: Cleveland purchases former National League batting champ Rico Carty from Cordoba of the Mexican League. He will hit .363 for the rest of the season. » August 15, 1978: The Blue Jays trade DH Rico Carty to the A's for DH Willie Horton and a minor league pitcher.