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 
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time…..Good luck on the biggest fight of your life.
Scientific studies prove that prayer is effective !!!
We are praying for you, as are the Grey Nuns of the Sacred Heart.
You can’t lose.
I am praying for you and your family……..Good luck with the biggest fight of your life…
Get Well Soon Gary! You can fight and get through this kid.
We are pulling for you! Our prayers are with you!
Best of luck Gary!!!! You can beat this! Tenacity and heart…two things you had on the ball field…..and that’ll get you through now!!!!
I have ALWAYS ADORED YOU AND WILL FOREVER, MAybe now you can join the Mets Hall of FAME where you should have been
Hey Kid, My thoughts and prayers are with you. The Mets universe is rooting for ya!!
Praying for you and your family Gary!You were awesome for the 86 Mets!
Hey Kid – We know how tough you are, we know you`re going to fight this, and you can count on millions of thoughts and prayers being sent your way from all of us very grateful Met fans! Go get `em Kid!!!!
Gary,
You and the 86 Mets will be a part of my life forever. Stay strong and you will beat this!! My prayers and thoughts are with you now and forever!!
Kid ! You are loved by so many people, and are unforgettable in the lives of true Mets fans like myself. You carried yourself with such pride and dignity; we are praying for you ! Be strong, Kid, be strong – you WILL be okay !!
Gary, please read- Anticancer: A New Way Of Life, By David Servan-Schreiber. He had brain cancer over twenty years ago. He is healthier now than before he ever got sick. He describes what you would need to do, other than the standard methods, to get better and stay healthy.
Gary, you have always been my all time favorite baseball player. God bless you and I pray you pull through this.. You have shown so much class on and off the field, I have high hopes you will beat this!
Praying for you, Gary. We love you, Kid.
Gary, GOD be with you, Beat that damn disease.
My thoughts and prayers are with you. Your toughness and heart will get you through this!
Gary, my prayers are with you. As a Met, you know miracles can happen. We have a God who makes those miracles happen everyday! Thank you for being the kind of player even a Indians fan can root for. Prayers for a quick and easy recovery.
Gary, we are praying for your recovery. I am a Mets fan for almost 50 years and even though my team sometimes let me down today, you always showed remarkable grit and determination to help win a lot of games. Thank you and fight on.
thoughts and prayers to Gary and his family during this toughest inning of his life he has always been one of my favorite Mets players and i wish him a speedy remission… I am sure all of the sports world is thinking positive thought for Gary saty strong stay positive and lean on your support group it makes all the difference in recovery
GARY USE THE WORDS YOU DID IN 86 ” I’M NOT MAKING THE LAST OUT” YOU ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE METS YOU ARE WELL KNOWN FOR YOUR FAITH IN GOD AND YOUR TREMENDOUS AND INFECTIOUS OPTIMISM STAY STRONG AND DON’T QUIT GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY
God Bless Gary. Stay Strong. We Believe
Keeping good thoughts and wishing there was more we could do…..
Gary…my thoughts and prayers go out to you and your beautiful family. God bless you always…KID!!! Never will I ever forget game six in 86 and that magical rally you started for us. You were always so clutch and I know you are going to pull another “hit” out of your body and beat this!!!
Mitch G
Ellenville, NY
I can remember the 86 world series like it was yesterday. I loved watching you slam the balls out of the park. Gary Carter=Mets forever. Stay strong and keep your spirits positive, Ya gotta believe….never forget that phrase. You are in my prayers as well as your family. get well soon
Hey Gary and Sandy– it’s Don McFarland’s sister, Mary. I’ve been checking online news about Gary since I first saw the article in the Orange County Register two weeks ago. I called Don that day, in case he hadn’t heard, but a couple other people had already told him. News travels fast — especially when it’s about a hometown hero. I found the link to this site at the bottom of the Wikipedia article and thought I’d give it a try to let you know we’re thinking of you and your family.
On a side note, years ago I was reading the hilarious ‘Marley and Me’ book to my young son (who’s now 17) and was surprised to suddenly be reading about you! I later found a copy of the movie that you and Marley were in — you were very convincing as the hot-headed Little League coach!
Take good care of yourself.
Sincerely,
Mary (McFarland) Montevideo
San Juan Capistrano
Wishing you a full recovery…my prayers are with you and your family. You are a true role model on and off the field …always there for the fans…now we are here for you…God bless you.
Gary:
You are the epitome of what a professional athlete should be, so I already know that you have the strength of character to face this current challenge. Nevertheless, you will be in my prayers so that you and your loved ones may face the future with added strength and courage.
Fight hard, be strong.
Gary,
You will be back!!!! When I think of the Mets…I think of Gary Carter. Thank you for all of my fond memories and all you have done for the organization.
Gary, I have been a fan of yours ever since you became a MET! You brought such joy and happiness to this game when you were playing and still do with everything you take on. This hit me like a ton a bricks when I heard the news but I said to myself, if anyone can beat it Gary can! We all stand behind you and my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family! Take care of yourself! Jodi
Gary, I have been a fan of yours since I met you after a game at Dodger Stadium back in the early 1980’s. You were playing for the Expos then. I asked for your autograph and you so kindly signed my program. You then spent a bit of time talking to me and my friends. I was just amazed that you would take the time to talk with us and actually seemed interested in what we had to say. It was then that I knew I would be a fan of Gary Carter’s for life. Well, I am still rooting for you. God bless you and your family, and best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Still your fan……Barbara Bower
Hey Gary, you are my all-time favorite athlete and one of the nicest guys I’ve ever met. With that amazing spirit and will you have, I know you will beat this. Of course, the prayers and thoughts of my family and friends are with you. My mom and your mom are also watching you from above and will fight this with you. My mom loved you too 🙂 All the best Kid!
Kid,
God bless you as you face your most difficult fight, even tougher than those scuffed balls from Mike Scott
Stay strong Kid….we are all here rooting for you. Our “METS” Hero!
God Bless you…..
Gary, I was at Shea on Opening Day 1985 and will never forget your 10th inning HR. Like millions of others, I was watching Game 6 in 1986. Thank you for all the wonderful moments and memories. It was a privilege and a joy to see you play in your prime. I am now sending prayers your way for a full recovery. God Bless You and your family!
Mets fan from the very beginning
KId,
You are a big part of our Mets family. And the Mets always pull off miracles. Ya’ Gotta Believe!!!
Good luck and God Bless,
Eric
To a great part of Mets’ history, and who has the heart of a winner- I just know that you, Kid, will
give your all in winning this battle. I have been a Mets’ fan since i was a kid, and you made
being a Mets’ fan a big thrill.
With your family, your friends and a world of met fans rooting for you, you can become a
winner– because winners never quit!
My prayers and my very best wishes to you. Love you, Gary.
I’ll never forget how you started the rally to win game 6. I was rocking my 9 month old daughter to sleep at the time, and I almost dropped her on the floor! Thanks for the wonderful memories, Gary. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. Just remember, miracles do happen – you have been witness to that! May God bless you and grant you a complete recovery.
This is not going to be your last out Gary. Don’t you worry.
Joel Cardona
Ya Gotta Believe!
Gary, you have your faith, your family, your friends and your doctors and nurses.
But you also have me — and millions more like me — in your corner. Mets fans (that’s me), Expos fans and just plain ol’ baseball fans are with you.
You gave us so many reasons to cheer over the years, and we’re on our feet cheering for you again!
You led the charge in Game 6. This time we’ll all do it together, OK?. We are with you, pal!
time to step up to the plate one more and knock this thing out of your system. If anybody can do it, you can
Mr. Carter I wish you the best in your battle. I wish you strength for both you and your family. Your tough one, so your chances are great. Beat this thing.
To one of the Greatest Catchers of All-Time, Gary “KID” Carter.
I’m a die-hard Mets fan, who like yourself wears my emotions on my sleeves. You were one of the leaders of one of the greatest teams ever assembled. I will sit back and watch you come through in the clutch like you always did in the pressure situation, against the toughest competion. To your speedy recovery, may God Bless you. I will keep you in my prayers and hope to see you back in a Mets uniform soon, whether it’s for Old Timers Day, as a Coach or Manager. You are a true World Champion.
Hey Kid,
Just wanted to say you were always one of my favorites. Your heart and hustle on a daily basis was one of the many reasons why I fell in love with the Mets. Hopefully your heart and positive energy will get you to feeling better real soon!!
GARY — I’LL NEVER FORGET GAME 6. YOUR WILL AND DETERMINATION TO WIN THAT GAME IS THE SAME WILL AND DETERMINATION THAT WILL HELP YOU DEFEAT THIS ILLNESS YOU HAVE. ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE WITH GOD. LOVE.
Gary, we are rooting for you now as much as we did when you played for New York. You and your family are in our prayer. Be strong and take care! We love you!
Susan McCarthy, RDC
HEY KID, HOPING YOU CAN BEAT THIS CANCER JUST LIKE YOU BEAT UP THOSE BASEBALLS YOU HIT FOR A HOMERUN.GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY. WE THE METS FANS ARE PRAYING FOR YOU……IT’S GREAT WHAT THE METS ARE DOING IN CITI FIELD FOR YOU….SO AGAIN MY BLESSES ARE WITH YOU AND YOUR FAMILY…
As all Met fans know, miracles come around but they also go around. So as you have provided us fans with many Met miracles, the fans now hope to provide one to you as an expression of thanks for providing us with some of the most miraculous moments in Met history. God Bless and best wishes for a speedy recovery!