Saying goodbye to The Kid (1954-2012)
Baseball mourns the loss of Gary Carter, who helped the Mets to the 1986 title and was inducted in the Hall of Fame after a 19-year career with the Expos, Mets, Giants and Dodgers. “The Kid” passed away peacefully on Feb. 16, 2012, at the age of 57 in his home state of Florida after a courageous battle with brain cancer.
“Driven by a remarkable enthusiasm for the game, Gary Carter became one of the elite catchers of all-time,” Commissioner Bud Selig said. “‘The Kid’ was an 11-time All-Star and a durable, consistent slugger for the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, and he ranks among the most beloved players in the history of both of those franchises. . . . I extend my deepest condolences to Gary’s wife Sandy, their daughters Christy and Kimmy, their son D.J., their grandchildren, his friends and his many fans.”
Major League Baseball invites fans to please leave any condolences and memories of Gary in this guestbook blog’s comments.
Remembering Gary Carter 
Gary – your Topps little figurine is still up on the shelf 3 house moves later. Now it’s a family icon, like you. Best of luck
The Schnells
Gary-
I will keep you in my heart. You and your family deserve all the best. My thoughts and prayers are with you and, God willing, we will all get through this difficult time together.
Mackenzie
To Gary & Family, i’ve been a METS fan long time & when I heard about you it’s really tragic. I remember @ 86 World Series when you started the rally in game 6. I know you will fight this horrible cancer & get back on your feet with wonderful smile. I will pray for you everyday.
Your #1 METS fan
JLee
My thoughts and prayers are with you Gary, you were my baseball idol when I was growing up and playing little league as well as my favorite MET!! I had the honor to be meet you in person a cpl of times which were one of my most memoral times in my life! I wish you the best of health and strength and know that you can get through this.
Get Well Soon
David
Thanks for all of the memories, Gary. You’re a leader and a winner, and we’re all pulling for you, because we know you’ve got the heart and the fight. Get well soon!
Don
still remember your first game with the mets. you were a great player and i loved watching you play. god bless my prayers are with you.
You are in my prayers. Be strong and positive.
To the Carter Family, Our thoughts & prayers are with you on a full recovery. Gary, We love you as a person & as
a Met. Thank you for embracing us as true Met fans, as we embraced you as one of our own. Though it was a short stint in NY. It seemed like you were there forever. Thanks for the great memories. (Especially the ’86 season). From a true & lifelong Mets fan, to a true & lifelong Met. God Bless You & your Family…..Dwayne Lewin
Please Get Well, Kid, we all love you
You were a great player and are a better person! I will have fond memories of ’86 and your entire career the rest of my life. God bless you!!
Always a fan,
Roy in Utah
Get well Gary and may our prayers be with you and your family at this time.
Get Well Kid, keep fighting!!!!
Thanks for all the joy! Praying for you and your family as I write.
Thanks for everything. God bless you, protect you and restore you to good health – Ken
Get well KID!!! We’re all here to support you!!!
Greeting from the Jersey Coast, we will always be there…
Dear Gary,
You did so much to give us hope for a team that seemed to not have what it takes to win the World Series….and yet you and the ’86 Mets did just that.
My family and my thoughts and prayers are with you for a positive outcome!
Thanks!
Always a Met’s fan,
Mimi
I think you were one of the greatest players to ever play the game. If anybody can beat this, you can. I wish you the best. Please get well soon Kid.
Your fan Lynn
Gary, you gave us all so many great memories. We are all thinking of you and praying for you. Your infectious optimism is now your greatest weapon. Keep using it, and get well soon!
Gary you were my hero growing up and still are my all time favorite baseball player.
Get well soon – we’re all pulling for you.
My prayers are with you and your family.
I read somewhere that a persons life will be judged by the difference they made it the life of a child. You have blessed many children on and off the field, Especially those who have lost a parent at a young age. I was blessed to meet you at the Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle over 20 yrs. ago. You made a difference in the life of my nephew. I will never forget you and thank God for you always. You will beat this obstacle for God is with you. Bless you and your family.
Gary, I don’t idolize athletes, but sir have always been a class act, on the field and off. I’ve been to one Worl Series game in my 54 years–Game 6, 1986– my mother had just had a stroke and my wife had just left me; that game, that series made my year. Good luck with your treatment, praying for you.
Gary my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. God Bless, Paul
Gary!
I was 10 years old in 1986! You were my hero! Please, get well soon!
Dear Gary… You are one of the most beloved Mets ever. You brought great joy to myself and many others. I remember watching you play in the 80’s very well and how much class you showed on and off the field. Here’s wishing you well on a healthy recovery. A loyal fan of your’s…
Mr. Carter and Family,
I am keeping all of you in my thoughts. Gary, You will always be a “Kid” in the hearts of every baseball fan. Thank you for always being true and worthy role model. Thanks to your entire family for allowing us to share you during all of the years that you played.
Wishing You The Best,
Erica.S
Get well soon, Kid!
From me and my family to you and yours you will be in our thoughts and prayers. You were, are, and always will be one of the best Met Catchers.
The Balbert Family
Dear Gary,
Your attitude on and off the field has always been a positive one. Keep those positive thoughts as each day passes. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Thank you for providing all of us with a great many thrills on the field and a great example as a human being.
The Gerber Family
Greetings Gary and best wishes from not only a Mets fan but also a Criollos de Caguas fan. You helped our team to win a championship back in ’72 in the Puerto Rico Baseball League. Thanks for your legacy and for great times to baseball, get well soon.
Shea i mean Citi Field misses you. Get better soon
To Gary,
You are in my thoughts and prayers, stay strong. You have always been an inspiration to me, and i enjoyed meeting you in 1986 during a book signing in Barnes and Noble in NYC.
Wendy
Had the honor of meeting you 3x in my life and you were always kind to a young fan! Get well soon! Let’s go Mets!
Mr. Carter,
Thanks for all the great memories from my childhood. You’ll always be my favorite player. my mother still tells the story about the night you were traded from the Expos, and how inconsolable I was.
Wishing you a very speedy recovery.
-Darin Ramsay
To my childhood hero and the greatest role model a kid growing up in Brooklyn, NY can have; I hope that you get better Gary, I’m pulling for you KiD. Next stop will be Citi and the retiring of number 8. Thank you for everything you have done for the orange and blue. – Frank Gargiulo
To my childhood hero and the greatest role model a kid growing up in Brooklyn, NY can have; I hope that you get better Gary, I’m pulling for you KiD. Next stop will be Citi and the retiring of number 8. Thank you for everything you have done for the orange and blue. – Frank Gargiulo
Keep up the fight Kid, All of NYC and all Mets fans are pulling for you.
Gary, you are one of the greatest Mets players in history. You’ve always had a fighting & winning spirit & I pray that you keep those spirits up during this time… and may God watch over you & your family. Stay strong. I believe.
Mets fan forever,
Evelyn
Gary, you’re one of the best cathers that I have seen play live. I hope you get better soon.
Mr. Carter,
growing up you were always my favorite Met. I am praying for you and your family. Stay strong and fight this battle. We are all rooting for you.
Franco
Get well Kid ur in our prayers great player better man hope to see #8 retired at Citi Field soon!!
Dear Gary,
I grew up watching you play when I lived in NYC. You were my favorite Met from the ’86 team because I always admired your optimism, enthusiasm, and concern for others. You are a class act, one that few will be able to follow. I will keep you in prayer. God bless you and your family!
Praying for you and hope you will be better soon. I’ll never forget the 86 season and what a thrill it was to watch you play.
Dear Kid: I met you several times before Shea home games and I think I was beginning to get on your nerves. Always wearing my Ticket taker uniform and rather short in stature, I originally met you in St. Pete during your first spring w. the Mets. My wife took a picture of us together which I had my friend Juan Alicea ask you to sign for me at a later date. I have always cherished this keepsake. You always wrote “God bless” on everything you signed and I know he will bless you in your time of most need. We will be praying for your full recovery and for your family as well. I hope maybe you will remember me, one of your greatest fans, and God bless. -Michael and Laura Cala
To Gary Carter I’m 39 years old and you have been my idol since I was 9 yrs old when you was with montreal and of course with the Mets. I wear your number now on my softball team when I was in little league and high school when I hear about the Tumor I was Sadden but I know you can over come this I wish you well.
Hi Gary- You were my favorite ballplayer growing up and the reason I ended up being a catcher. We are all pulling for you and wish you the best! Please get well Kid!
Hey Gary, We are all thinking about, and praying for you. Long time Mets fan. I had one Gary Carter stoy i can tell, it was back in the 80’s at the old Veterans Stadium in Phila, Pa I believe it was on Gary’s BDay. Mets were down by 1 in top of the 9th and Gary was on second base with 2 outs, next thing I know the Phils were walking off of the field, they had pulled the old hidden ball trick on Gary, all of us Mets fans were like what the heck just happened.. But its all good it gave us something to talk about for many many years…
my thoughts and prayers are with you and your famliy
To Gary and family,
I will keep you and your family in my thoughts and prayers. You are and always will be my #1 Mets catcher. Loved watching you in the 80’s. Stay positive and be well.
Your loyal fan Noreen