Former outfielder Rico Carty died Saturday night. He was one of the early Dominican players in the major leagues:

Carty, a one-time All-Star and one-time batting champion, was 85 years old. He was inducted into the Atlanta Braves’ Hall of Fame in 2023.

The Dominican Republic native signed with the Milwaukee Braves in 1959, then made his big league debut in 1963. The catcher-turned-outfielder burst onto the scene for real in 1964, batting .330 with 22 home runs, 88 RBI, a .942 OPS and a 4.8 WAR.

MSN.com

My thoughts go out to his family and friends.

Carty’s strength as a hitter lie in his ability to get on base, posting a .369 career mark. His best season came in 1970, batting .366/.454/.584, good for a 5.8 rWAR. He played from 1963 to 1979, although his career was often interrupted due to injuries. When healthy however, he continued to be a valuable player well into his 30’s, posting 3+ WAR seasons in at seasonal ages 35,36, and 38. All in all, he topped three WAR seven times.