Rick Lamar Camp was born to Furman “Fat” W. Camp (1916-1986) and Robbie Greenwood Camp (1920-2010) on June 10, 1953. He was a very talented athlete at Trion High School. He graduated from Trion High School and earned a football scholarship with Tennessee Tech. He agreed to attend Tennessee Tech and play quarterback on the football team, as long as they allowed him to play baseball in the spring.

Rick Camp spoke at the Chattooga County Historical Society meeting on January 13, 2013, and told the audience at the Summerville Depot that the college did not keep their word, and he packed his bags and gave the two colleges in Rome, Georgia (Shorter and Berry) a chance to pick him up on their baseball teams. Can you guess what Shorter College and Berry College told a young Rick Camp? Both colleges did not feel Camp was what they needed in a pitcher. Camp packed his bags again and headed to Carrollton, Georgia. He said it only took five pitches off the mound and the West Georgia Braves offered him a scholarship. Camp assured Head Coach Archie White he would pitch for the West Georgia Braves as long as Coach White would let him pitch against Shorter College and Berry College every time they played them…Coach Archie White agreed and Camp beat the two colleges every time he faced them. In the fall of 1972, little did anyone at the time know that Trion’s “favorite son” was destined for stardom on the mound with West Georgia and later with the Atlanta Braves. He pitched two seasons with West Georgia (1973-1974) and set several records while with the West Georgia Braves.

Rick Camp turned to professional baseball when he signed with the Atlanta Braves. He made it to the big leagues in 1976. He made his debut in the major leagues on September 15. For the next nine years, he became one of Atlanta’s most effective relief pitchers. Camp was always a fan favorite, and the Braves announcers also loved Trion’s “favorite son.” He ended his baseball career in 1985 with 56 wins, 49 losses, 57 saves, 407 strikeouts, and a 3.37 ERA. The highlight of Camp’s career did not happen on the pitcher’s mound, but from the batter’s box on July 5, 1985. As a pinch hitter in the 18th inning, Camp hit a home run off of New York Mets pitcher Tom Gorman. Atlanta’s planned 4^th of July fireworks were delayed because of the 18 inning game, but Camp’s home run was dubbed “The Shot Heard ‘Round Atlanta.”

For the past few years, Rydal, Georgia was home to Rick Camp, but he returned to Trion for the funeral of his Aunt Beta Hayes Greenwood (1927-2012) in May 2012, and the funeral of his Uncle J.W. Greenwood (1927-2012) in June 2012. Camp’s most recent visit was on Sunday, January 13, 2013, when he was honored for his athletic accomplishments at the Chattooga County Historical Society meeting honoring several Chattooga County athletes.

Rick Camp has passed away at the age of 59, and he joins at least two other teammates of the 1980s to die at a young age. Pitcher Rick Mahler passed away suddenly on March 2, 2005, at the age of 51. Pitcher Pascual Perez passed away suddenly on November 1, 2012, at the age of 55. Former teammate Dale Murphy commented, “I will miss my friend and teammate Rick Camp. It was sad news, but RIP Rick.”