Hello Friends!
I'm sure by now, most of you may know that Rico Carty passed away recently.
Probably best known for being a member of the Braves in both Milwaukee and Atlanta, he also spent time with the Jays, Indians, Athletics, Rangers, and Cubs.
It's interesting to note that he spent two separate stints with the Blue Jays, though one was barely a month. He was taken by the Jays in the Expansion Draft, then traded back to Cleveland a month later for Rick Cerone and John Lowenstein. Lowenstein, funnily enough, ended up back on the Indians when the Jays traded for Hector Torres in Spring Training..
As it stands, I know I have three cards of Carty. I may have another, depending on what's in my OPC cards I haven't catalogued yet..
1977 Topps did the airbrush job while the OPC actually just left him as an Indian (meaning I wouldn't have his OPC from 77.. D'OH!)
His 78 is as an Indian.
His 1980 card is as a Jay.
So in Spring Training 1978, he was traded to Toronto for Dennis DeBarr. In August of 78, he was traded to Oakland for Phil Huffman and Willie Horton.
After the season he was puchased from the A's, granted Free Agency, then resigned with the Jays for 79. I imagine it was some sort of agreement to maybe offer different terms, or whatever. I don't know. I was 2 when that happened lol.
Carty was a One Time All Star, being selected to the 1970 game. That year he won the batting title and finished 10th in MVP voting.
Just taking a look at his minor league stats, he did have a connection to Toronto before the Jays.. He was a member of the 1963 Toronto Maple Leafs International League team.
Doing a little digging I see he had some issues with teammates in Atlanta and Chicago. Apparently, he got into fights with Hank Aaron and Ron Reed in Atlanta, and Ron Santo in Chicago. He spent most of 1974 in the Mexican League before Cleveland signed him.
1979 was his final season in the Majors.
He passed away today, November 24, 2024. He was 85 years old.
Rest in Peace, Beeg Boy..
