Rico Carty---1979
“The Beeg Boy” was one of the
purest hitters ever to play the game.
A magician with the bat, he wasted
no time displaying his ability in the
big leagues by ranking second in the
National League batting race to
Roberto Clemente with a .330
average and second to Richie Allen
for Rookie of the Year honors on the
senior circuit in 1964. He later hit .
366 in 1970, the highest norm in the
major leagues at that time since Ted
Williams batted .388 in 1957, and
became one of the first truly
productive designated hitters by
clubbing 31 home runs in 1978, when
he split time with Toronto and
Oakland.
An eccentric fellow, Carty signed 10
professional contracts while in the
Dominican Republic in 1960, which
led to some considerable
consternation regarding which team
held his rights. Carty wound up with
the Braves, where he quickly wore
out his welcome as a poor defensive
catcher and soon became a similar
liability in left field.
He also encountered several health
issues. Carty missed the entire 1968
season due to tuberculosis and even
spent five months in a sanitarium.
During this time Carty was convinced
that the Aaron brothers, Hank and
Tommie, had placed a curse on him,
leading to his illness. Carty also
broke his knee during a collision
while playing winter ball, forcing him
to miss all of the 1971 slate. Some
observers believed his playing days
were done, but Carty rebounded and
remained productive. He wound up
playing in Mexico in 1973 when the
Indians resuscitated his career for
the "gloveless" role he was meant to
play—the DH.
(4/7/09)
purest hitters ever to play the game.
A magician with the bat, he wasted
no time displaying his ability in the
big leagues by ranking second in the
National League batting race to
Roberto Clemente with a .330
average and second to Richie Allen
for Rookie of the Year honors on the
senior circuit in 1964. He later hit .
366 in 1970, the highest norm in the
major leagues at that time since Ted
Williams batted .388 in 1957, and
became one of the first truly
productive designated hitters by
clubbing 31 home runs in 1978, when
he split time with Toronto and
Oakland.
An eccentric fellow, Carty signed 10
professional contracts while in the
Dominican Republic in 1960, which
led to some considerable
consternation regarding which team
held his rights. Carty wound up with
the Braves, where he quickly wore
out his welcome as a poor defensive
catcher and soon became a similar
liability in left field.
He also encountered several health
issues. Carty missed the entire 1968
season due to tuberculosis and even
spent five months in a sanitarium.
During this time Carty was convinced
that the Aaron brothers, Hank and
Tommie, had placed a curse on him,
leading to his illness. Carty also
broke his knee during a collision
while playing winter ball, forcing him
to miss all of the 1971 slate. Some
observers believed his playing days
were done, but Carty rebounded and
remained productive. He wound up
playing in Mexico in 1973 when the
Indians resuscitated his career for
the "gloveless" role he was meant to
play—the DH.
(4/7/09)
