Former Braves pitcher Camp passes away at 59

Rick Camp, who once posted consecutive seasons with a sub-2.00 ERA as a Braves reliever, reportedly died Thursday. He was 59.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, authorities said there was nothing that suggested Camp's death was a result of anything other than natural causes.

Camp, a native of Trion, Ga., who also attended two colleges in the state, spent nine years on the Braves' pitching staff, mostly in the bullpen. The organization drafted him in the seventh round in 1974.

Camp logged a 1.91 ERA in 1980, which helped him place 20th in the balloting for the National League Most Valuable Player Award. In '81, he compiled a 9-3 record and a 1.78 ERA to go along with 17 saves.

Camp tallied 21 victories between 1982-83, spending time in both the starting rotation and bullpen. In all, he recorded a 3.37 ERA and 56-49 record across nine big league seasons.

Camp also hit one very memorable home run in 197 career plate appearances. With the Braves trailing the Mets, 11-10, in the bottom of the 18th inning on July 4, 1985, Camp slugged a two-out homer to extend a game the Braves eventually lost, 16-13, in 19 innings.