As die-hard Milwaukee baseball fans know, the Milwaukee Brewers are not the first Major League Baseball team the city has called its own. The Milwaukee Braves played in the city from 1953 to 1965, won the World Series in 1957, and appeared in another World Series in 1958.
The Braves’ time in Milwaukee saw several legendary players leave their mark on the history of the city and baseball. Of course, the most notable of these players is Hank Aaron, the man many still consider the all-time home run king due to the steroid allegations Barry Bond.
The Braves’ time in Milwaukee is a chapter in baseball and city history that is far too often forgotten. There are very few players left who have played for the Braves in baseball’s smallest market, and unfortunately that number dropped on Saturday.
Milwaukee baseball legend Rico Carty has died
This morning Newsweek reported this legendary Milwaukee and Atlanta Braves shortstop has left Rico Carty died at the age of 85. Carty was one of the first MLB stars born in the Dominican Republic.
In 1959, Carty played for the Dominican Republic at the Pan American Games, held that year in Chicago. The Braves were impressed with the 20-year-old’s play and signed him to a minor league contract.
Carty’s debut season was with Milwaukee in 1964. That year, he hit .330/.388/.942 with 22 home runs and 88 RBI. He finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting, losing to Dick Allen of the Philadelphia Phillies.
In 1965, Carty hit .310/.355/.494 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI, but due to injuries he only played in 83 games.
Of course, the Braves moved to Atlanta the following year.
Carty struggled with injuries for much of his career, even missing the entire 1968 season due to tuberculosis. But when he played, he hit with the best.
In 1970, Carty made his first and only NL All-Star team and won the batting title, slashing .366/.454/.584 with 25 home runs and 101 RBI.
Carty was traded after the 1972 season and spent time with the Texas Rangers, Oakland A’s and Chicago Cubs in 1973.
He was signed by the Cleveland Indians in 1974 and spent four seasons there, hitting .303/.372/.455 during that span.
Carty retired from the Athletics and the Toronto Blue Jays.
When all was said and done, Carty had a career average of .299/.369/.464 with 1,677 hits, 204 home runs and 890 RBI.
The Braves inducted him into their Hall of Fame last year. His career .317 batting average with the Braves remains the sixth highest in franchise history.
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