Rick Camp – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

Rick Camp isn’t exactly a household name in baseball, but during his nine seasons with the Atlanta Braves, he definitely left a mark. He pitched right-handed for his entire Major League Baseball career from 1976 to 1985, finishing with a 56-49 record, a 3.37 ERA, and 57 saves in 414 games.

Camp didn’t become a legend because of his pitching stats. Instead, he pulled off the only home run of his professional life in the wildest way possible—during an 18-inning marathon against the New York Mets on July 4, 1985. He hit that game-tying blast with two outs and an 0-2 count, even though he had a .060 batting average and the Braves had run out of position players.

But Camp’s story is more than just that one moment. He grew up in a small Georgia town, fought his way to the majors, and faced some tough times after retirement. When he passed away in 2013 at 59, he left behind a legacy full of both dreams realized and the struggles that come after the cheers fade.

Early Life and Background

Rick Camp was born on June 10, 1953, in Trion, Georgia. This little town really shaped his early years and love for baseball.

His journey to pro ball started in the local schools and eventually led him to West Georgia University. Scouts started to notice his talent there.

Birthplace and Family

Rick Lamar Camp came into the world in Trion, Georgia, up in Chattooga County in the northwest part of the state. Trion’s a close-knit place where baseball means a lot to folks.

Camp pitched for Trion High School, where his skills started to shine. That small-town vibe gave him room to stand out.

Growing up in rural Georgia, he was surrounded by people who valued hard work and grit. Those traits definitely helped him later on in his career.

He always held onto his Georgia roots, and not many players can say they played only for the Atlanta Braves in the majors.

Education and Early Baseball Experience

After finishing at Trion High, Camp kept going at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton. That move gave him a bigger stage to show off his pitching.

At West Georgia, Camp caught the attention of college scouts and pro recruiters. His pitching improved a lot during those years.

Playing against tougher competition forced him to step up his game and refine his approach. That set the stage for what came next.

In 1974, the Atlanta Braves picked Camp in the seventh round of the MLB June Amateur Draft. That was the start of his journey from small-town Georgia to the big leagues.

The Braves saw something in him and brought him into their minor league system.

Major League Career with the Atlanta Braves

Rick Camp played his entire MLB career with the Braves from 1976 to 1985. He built a reputation as a reliable pitcher who could shift from starting to relief roles.

He made his debut, contributed steadily, and even faced some of the game’s biggest names during a pretty competitive era.

Debut and Rise to the Majors

Camp took the mound for his MLB debut on September 15, 1976, at 23 years old. The Braves had picked him in the 1974 draft out of West Georgia.

He showed promise early, working his way up through the Braves’ minor league teams. Camp started out as a starting pitcher but shifted into a swingman role by the time he reached Richmond in 1976.

He quickly found his footing in the majors. From 1976 to 1978, he played for Atlanta, then came back after a short break to pitch from 1980 to 1985.

Camp showed he could handle both starting and relief work, depending on what the team needed.

Pitching Roles and Team Contributions

Camp put together a career record of 56 wins and 49 losses in 414 games. His 3.37 ERA showed steady performance over nine seasons.

As a reliever, he saved 57 games. He struck out 407 batters, proving he could get big outs when it mattered.

Camp’s role changed as the years went on. He moved from occasional starter to mostly reliever, always filling the gap Atlanta needed.

His steady hand made him a valuable part of the pitching staff. He could pitch multiple innings and deal with high-pressure moments.

Notable Teammates and Opponents

While with Atlanta, Camp faced off against some of the best in baseball. His most famous showdown happened against the New York Mets on July 4, 1985.

That game turned into an 18-inning epic, and Camp faced a tough Mets lineup. Players who would become legends played in that game.

His Braves teammates included a mix of players who helped shape Atlanta baseball in the late ’70s and early ’80s. The team was still building toward future success then.

He pitched against some of the era’s best hitters and top teams. Camp held his own, showing he belonged in the big leagues.

His nearly decade-long career is proof he could handle tough lineups and keep competing at a high level.

Statistical Overview and Achievements

Rick Camp finished with a 56-49 record and a 3.37 ERA over 942 innings in nine years with the Braves. His best years? Definitely 1980 and 1981, when he posted ERAs under 2.00 as the team’s closer.

Pitching Performance and ERA

Camp’s best numbers came in 1980 and 1981, when he absolutely dominated as a reliever. In 1980, he put up a 1.91 ERA in 108.1 innings and notched 22 saves.

He followed that up in 1981 with a 1.78 ERA over 76 innings and 17 saves.

That 1981 season got him noticed as one of the top relievers in the National League. Camp struck out 47 and walked only 12, which is a pretty great ratio.

Over his career, he kept a solid 3.37 ERA in 414 games. He finished 170 games as the last pitcher on the mound and totaled 57 saves.

Camp’s ERA+ of 115 means he was 15% better than the average pitcher in his league. His WHIP was 1.386, so he gave up about 1.4 baserunners per inning.

Fielding Records and Defensive Impact

Camp’s fielding stats show he handled his position well. After a rough rookie year with a .889 fielding percentage, he improved a lot.

During his best seasons as a reliever, he kept up solid defensive numbers. His range and fielding lined up with league averages for pitchers back then.

He turned double plays when he got the chance. That ability to field his position made him even more effective as a closer in the early ’80s.

Camp’s steady glove helped him keep his spot in big late-game situations. That reliability in the field was a real asset.

Career Highlights and Recognitions

Camp peaked in 1981, earning some MVP votes and finishing 20th in National League voting. That was during his monster year with a 1.78 ERA and 17 saves.

He hit a career high with 22 saves in 1980, making him the Braves’ main closer. His 1980-1981 stretch stands out as one of the best by a reliever in Atlanta history.

The Baseball Almanac points out that Camp stayed healthy over nine seasons, never missing much time. With 414 career appearances, he showed real durability for a pitcher in his era.

Camp racked up 13.5 Wins Above Replacement as a pitcher, which says a lot about his value to the Braves. He was at his best in the early ’80s when Atlanta was in the hunt in the National League West.

The Legendary 1985 Game and Memorable Moments

Rick Camp’s career hit its wildest moment on July 4, 1985. His unlikely home run against the New York Mets turned him into an instant legend.

That marathon 19-inning game at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium became known as “The Rick Camp Game.” Sports Illustrated even covered it.

The July 4th Marathon Against the Mets

The Mets-Braves game started late, after a 90-minute rain delay, kicking off around 9:00 p.m. EDT. What was supposed to be a regular game turned into a 19-inning marathon, wrapping up at 3:55 a.m. on July 5.

Keith Hernandez put on a show, hitting for the cycle—even though umpire Terry Tata made a questionable call in the sixth inning, ruling his line drive had been caught by Dale Murphy.

The game had wild twists and lead changes. The Mets pulled out a 16-13 win after scoring five runs in the 19th.

Ron Darling became the Mets’ seventh pitcher of the night and managed to close it out, even though he gave up two unearned runs.

The box score was nuts: 46 hits, 22 walks, 37 runners left on base, five errors, and two ejections. Without the rain, the actual playing time was still over six hours.

Iconic Home Run and Its Impact

Camp’s big moment came in the bottom of the 18th, Braves down 11-10. With no position players left, the .060-hitting Camp had to bat.

He faced Mets pitcher Tom Gorman, went down 0-2, then somehow connected and sent the ball over the left field wall at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.

That was the only home run of Camp’s entire career, including the minors. In that instant, he went from a little-known reliever to a baseball folk hero.

Fans who stuck around saw history. Camp did strike out in the 19th, but by then, he’d already made his mark.

Media Coverage and Sports Illustrated Feature

People all over the country woke up to news about this insane game. Sports Illustrated ran a feature called “Remembering the Rick Camp Game,” calling out the sheer improbability of Camp’s home run.

TV and radio covered the game—WTBS in Atlanta, WOR in New York. The late finish meant most fans only heard about it the next morning.

After the game, the stadium set off fireworks at 4:30 a.m. for the fans who stayed. Local emergency services got 911 calls about the fireworks, since nobody expected them at that hour.

Sports Illustrated and other outlets kept mentioning the game in anniversary stories and baseball retrospectives. It became a measuring stick for marathon games and underdog moments.

Retirement and Life After Baseball

Rick Camp played his last season in 1985, wrapping up a nine-year run with the Braves. After baseball, his life took some tough turns that sadly overshadowed his time on the field.

Final Season and Retirement in 1985

The 1985 season turned out to be Camp’s last as a pro ballplayer. Everything built up to a wild, unforgettable night on July 4, 1985, when the Braves faced the New York Mets in a marathon 18-inning game.

Camp came into the game as a pitcher during the bottom of the 18th. The Braves were down by one, but he stepped up to the plate and, against all odds, smashed a game-tying home run.

That was his first and only home run ever.

The game dragged on into the early hours of July 5th. Camp’s home run—so unexpected—instantly became a legendary baseball moment.

It proved anyone can deliver magic, even when nobody expects it.

Why this moment stands out:

• Only home run in a nine-year career
• Hit in the 18th inning of a wild game
• Tied it up against division rivals
• Happened during a holiday game with national attention

After the 1985 season, Camp decided to retire from professional baseball at age 32. The Braves had picked him back in 1974 from the University of West Georgia.

Personal Life and Legacy

After baseball, Camp’s life took a rough turn. He ran into serious legal trouble and ended up serving time in federal prison for stealing money from a mental health center where he worked.

Born in Trion, Georgia, on June 10, 1953, Camp stayed close to his roots. He went to Trion High School and later played college ball at the University of West Georgia.

He died on April 25, 2013, in Rydal, Georgia, at age 59. His story mixed triumph and heartbreak, and it definitely wasn’t simple.

His baseball legacy:

• Nine seasons with the Atlanta Braves (1976-1985)
• Reliable relief pitcher
• That famous July 4, 1985 home run
• Proof that sports can turn anyone into a hero for a moment

Even with everything that happened after baseball, most people remember Camp for that one magical swing in 1985. Braves fans and baseball historians still talk about it.

Death and Memorials

Rick Camp died at home in Georgia in April 2013 at age 59. His son found him after several calls went unanswered.

Family and old teammates gathered at his hometown cemetery to pay their respects.

Date and Circumstances of Passing

Rick Camp passed away on April 25, 2013, at his home in Rydal, Georgia. He was 59 when he died.

His son discovered him at the house after getting worried when Camp didn’t pick up the phone.

The house sat in Bartow County, about 55 miles northwest of Atlanta. Bartow County coroner Joel Guyton confirmed they found Camp’s body.

At first, nobody really knew what caused his death. They performed an autopsy, but the results never went public.

Authorities figured it was natural causes, at least based on what they saw. Camp’s family and friends expressed shock and sadness at the sudden loss.

Resting Place and Public Tributes

Camp’s funeral service happened on April 29, 2013, at the First Baptist Church of Trion. They held it right in his hometown, the place where he’d spent his early years.

He was buried at West Hill Cemetery in Trion, Georgia. That cemetery sits in the same small town where Camp grew up before his baseball career took off.

Former teammates and colleagues offered their tributes after Camp passed away. Dale Murphy, who played with him on the Braves, called him “a good guy who had a good heart” and said he was glad Camp “had peace in his life.”

Bobby Cox, who managed Camp with the Braves, described him as “a great competitor and a great teammate.” Cox also mentioned he felt “proud of him for straightening out his life” later on.

Most of the tributes really centered on Camp’s character and the way he worked to overcome personal struggles in his final years.