Former Atlanta Braves Pitcher Rick Camp Dies

Rick Camp, who pitched nine seasons for the Atlanta Braves, from 1976-1985, died at his Georgia home on Thursday. He was 59-years old.

Baseball Reference lists Camp's age at 59, although some outlets report his age as being 60.

An autopsy is scheduled to be performed, but it is believed that camp died of natural causes.

Camp had a career record of 56-49, with a 3.37 ERA, along with 57 saves. His best two seasons were 1980-1981, when he combined for a 15-7 record, with 39 saves, and a combined ERA. of under 1.90.

Camp may be best remembered for his first, and only home run in his 175 Major League at-bats. The home run happened on the 4th of July in 1985, Camp's last season. In the top of the 18th inning, Camp was pitching when the Mets took an 11-10 lead over the Braves. In the bottom of the 18th, Camp hit for himself with two outs and hit a solo homer to tie the game.

The Braves, and Camp, went on to lose, 16-13, but it's a homer that many Braves fans, and baseball fans watching on TBS in the wee hours of the morning, still remember to this day.

It was a game that lasted 19 innings, and spanned over six hours. Not only that, but there was a lengthy rain delay. So, with all that, the game finally concluded about 4 am (edt).

Camp's final game was October 5, 1985, when the Braves lost to the San Francisco Giants, 7-1, at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. In that game, Camp threw one inning of scoreless relief, allowing one hit.