Remembering members of the Braves organization who passed in 2024.
We remember members of the Atlanta Braves organization who passed away in 2024.
Rico Carty
September 1, 1939 – November 23, 2024
First base, Left field, Designated hitter
Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves: 1963-1972
Debuting with two games in 1963 and then establishing himself in MLB as the runner-up in the 1964 Rookie of the Year vote with the Milwaukee Braves. The native of the Dominican Republic played in parts of 15 seasons – eight of which were with the Braves in Milwaukee and Atlanta. His best season was 1970 when he won the National League batting title, hitting .366 while being named an All-Star for the only time in his career. He was inducted into the Braves Hall of Fame in 2023. For a full recap of his career, read this article from Battery Power.
Photo by: Diamond Images/Getty Images
Orlando Cepeda
September 17, 1937 – June 28, 2024
First baseman, Left fielder
Atlanta Braves: 1969-1974
Hall of Famer Orlando Cepeda was an 11-time All-Star and a National League Rookie of the Year and Most Valuable Player while with the San Francisco Giants. During his 19-year career in the big leagues, Cepeda spent four seasons with the Braves, including his 1979 season when he hit 34 home runs and drove in 111 runs. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999. For more on Cepeda, read this article from Battery Power.
Photo by Kevin Liles/Getty Images
Juan Jaime
August 2, 1987 – December 27, 2024
Pitcher
Atlanta Braves: 2014-2015
Signed by the Montreal Expos in 2004 as an international free agent out of the Dominican Republic, right-handed pitcher Juan Jaime signed with the Braves as a free agent in August 2011 after being released by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He would debut against his original organization on June 20, 2014 – striking out two in an inning pitched. He saw action in 15 more games that season, striking out 18 in 12.1 innings pitched, but also walking nine batters and allowing 14 hits. He made two appearances for Atlanta in 2015 before being included in a six-player trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He only appeared at the MLB level with Atlanta, but continued to pitch making his last professional appearance in the 2023-2024 Colombian Winter League.
Photo by Transcendental Graphics/Getty Images
Joey Jay
August 15, 1935 – September 27, 2024
Pitcher
Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves: 195-1960; 1966
Joey Jay debuted as a 17-year-old with the Milwaukee Brewers in 1953 and pitched for the Braves through the 1960 season before heading to Atlanta to finish his career in 1966. Jay’s greatest success came after leaving the Braves in 1961 when he lead the National League in wins and shutout while finishing fifth in the Most Valuable Player vote and being selected to both All-Star games that season. Jay finished his 13-year career with 99 wins and seven saves. In 310 games, including 203 starts, Jay had a career 3.77 ERA.
Denny Lemaster
February 25, 1939 – July 24, 2024
Pitcher
Milwaukee/Atlanta Braves: 1962-1967
Pitcher Denny Lemaster debuted with the Milwaukee Braves in 1962 and pitching with the Braves through his All-Star season in Atlanta in 1967. He was traded to the Houston Astros in the following off-season. Lemaster appeared in 11 season during his big league career, with his last season coming in 1972 with the Montreal Expos. For his career, he won 90 games, pitching in 357 contests with 249 starts. With the Braves, he won 58 games and took the mound 192 times. Eleven of his 14 career saves came with Atlanta.
Merv Rettenmund
June 6, 1943 – December 7, 2024
Hitting Coach
Atlanta Braves: 2000-2001
Merv Rettenmund had a 13-year big league career, primarily as an outfielder, before becoming a long-time MLB hitting coach. As a player, he appeared in more than 1,000 career games collecting just shy of 700 career hits. After the end of his playing career, Retttenmund was the hitting coach for five different organizations, beginning in 1983 with the Texas Rangers and concluding with his second stent with the San Diego Padres in 2006. With Atlanta, he oversaw the offense that was part of division winners in both 2000 and 2001.
Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images
Luis Tiant
November 23, 1940 – October 8, 2024
Pitcher
Atlanta Braves: 1971 (Triple-A)
Right-handed pitcher Luis Tiant had a 19-year MLB career that included a brief pit-stop in the Braves organization, playing at Triple-A Richmond in 1971 prior to joining the Boston Red Sox organization and beginning his second act of a career that keeps him in the Hall of Fame discussion. Pitching in 573 games, 484 as a starter, Tiant compiled 54.8 fWAR during his career. A three-time All-Star and three-time top six finisher in the Cy Young Award vote, Tiant won 229 games and struck out 2,416 batters. He twice led the American League in ERA with sub-2.00 ERAs in 1968 and 1972 with the Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox, respectively. He debuted with Cleveland in 1964 and wrapped up his career with the California Angels in 1982 at age 41.