Posted on 02/16/2012 2:39:07 PM PST by John W
Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter died Thursday after a battle with brain cancer. He was 57.
Affectionately known as the “Kid” during his 19-season major league career, Carter was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2003, his sixth year on the ballot.
Carter was a career .262 hitter with 324 homers and 1,225 RBIs. He hit at least 20 homers in nine seasons and topped 100 RBIs four times, leading the National League in that category in 1984 when he drove in 106 runs.
Among catchers, Carter ranks third all-time in RBIs and games caught, and fifth homers and runs scored.
He was an 11-time All-Star, a three-time Gold Glove winner and a five-time Silver Slugger. Additionally he was named to the Sporting News NL All-Star team six times.
Carter was named the MVP of the 1981 and 1984 All-Star Games, and he was the starting catcher for the 1986 World Series champion New York Mets. In the team’s famous comeback in Game 6 of that World Series against the Boston Red Sox, it was Carter’s two-out hit that ignited the improbable rally and resulted in a come-from-behind 6-5 victory.
Carter was diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive, fast-moving brain cancer, in May. About a week before the diagnosis, four small tumors were found on his brain after Carter had complained of experiencing confusion and fatigue.
Since that diagnosis, Carter’s family has maintained a blog, which they used to update the public on the Hall of Famer’s condition. On Jan. 21, Carter’s children accepted the Milton and Arthur Richman “You Gotta Have Heart” award for their father at the Baseball Writers of America awards dinner in New York. Those in attendance gave Carter’s two daughters and one son a lengthy standing ovation when they stepped on the stage.
“I'll be telling my Dad about that standing ‘O.’ He likes that a lot,” Kimmy Bloemers, Carter’s daughter told the audience, according to the New York Daily News.
Carter’s son, D.J., then read a statement prepared by his father: “I’ll always have a special place in my heart for the people and city of New York. I’ll never forget my first game in a Mets uniform on opening day in 1985 when I had the fortune of leading our team to victory over the St. Louis Cardinals with a 10th-inning walkoff home run. I still remember the feeling of riding in the World Series parade with over one million people lining the streets to celebrate our championship. I’ve always strived to put my heart and soul into everything I’ve done in my life. I want to wish all of you the very, very best and hope that the Mets win many more World Series championships.”
In mid-January, Carter’s doctors announced they had found new tumors on his brain. At that time, his family announced that his condition had taken a turn for the worse.
Carter was a third-round pick by the Montreal Expos in 1972 and made his major league debut in 1974. He was traded to the Mets prior to the 1985 season and played one season with the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers before finishing his career with the Expos in 1992.
This sucks...RIP Gary.
1986 Mets!!!
He was a good man.
RIP - Gary!
I enjoyed watching you play with the Montreal Expos as a kid.
I always thought so too. Very sad.
1986 Mets! I attended so many regular season games. And what roller coaster NLCS & World Series!
This comes as a shock. Obviously I missed the announcements in the past year about his diagnosis and care.
RIP to a great catcher and (AFAIK) a good family man.
RIP Gary Carter.
How ironic, a few days now till pitchers and catchers are set to report for spring training.
The Kid.
RIP
The New York Times obituary of Gary Carter
RIP.
When I was a young lad I had book that had the testimonies of Christian baseball players, Gary Carter was one of those featured. May he RIP.
RIP, Gary.
I spent hundreds of hours watching this man and his NY Mets teammates play, and one could always tell that he was a team leader, very mature, very decent - a regular guy in a world of overgrown, self-absorbed infants. The world is a much poorer place without him.
Too young.
RIP Mr. Carter
we’ll miss The Kid....
i take my 8YO daughter to 5-to-6 Mets games a year...not a huge baseball fan but we always have a great time...every home game last year they would play a 45 second montage of Gary Carter highlights then asked the fans to remember him....my daughter had me explain to her what was happening...
one image i will never forget was after the Mets beat the Astros in the NLCS in ‘86 and were on their way to the World Series, the first in Carter’s career- the kid was addressing a group of reporters...in the background you hear, “daddy- daddy” Carter turns around and his daughter is running towards him...he says the the reporters “excuse me” as his daughter junmped into his arms...great scene...
RIP Gary.
I’ve been a Mets fan since 1967. Even had an autographed picture of Tommie Agee, my favorite player when I was a kid. ( I copied his batting ritual) I remember well when Carter came to the team and how he had such a large part in making them great along with Keith Hernandez.
Very sad news and really unbelievable how fast this happened.
He was one of the good guys. Go with God, Gary.
Season ticket holder 87-88.
Gary Cater finally made the Big League.
God Bless you Gary Carter - Thanks for all the good times!
And IIRC he's the only player in the HOF enshrined with an Expos cap.
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