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 
Dear Gary… I want to wish you luck in fighting this illness. All the Expos fans in Canada and elsewhere are pulling for you. Fight with everything you’ve got.
Gary: You were a member of the AMAZING METS and one of my favorite players of all time…You must know that miracles happen every day…. I have been facing terminal illness for 6 years now (I was not supposed to live beyond 2 months) so I definitely believe in miracles…. Keep fighting no matter what… don’t give up… I’ll be sending up prayers for you ……..
Gary, you helped bring life to an organization that was dead for a lot of years when you became a Met! For this I will always be in your debt since I suffered for so many years wanting a winner in Flushing and always walking away dissappointed. We will pray for you and your family as you battle through this! You are a champion in everything you do so go be a champion again and kick the shit out this so we can get you back at the park.
Metsfan 84
Gary:
Lots of prayers from Brooklyn from a die-hard Red Sox fan who became a fan of yours DESPITE 1986. You have shown class all your life. I know your faith and your family and the millions of people who love you across the country will carry you through this difficult test. YA GOTTA BELIEVE! Just like 1986, even down to the last strike, you can and will still win!
Chris Patsos
Brooklyn
Gary:
Lots of prayers from Brooklyn from a die-hard Red Sox fan who became a fan of yours DESPITE 1986. You have shown class all your life. I know your faith and your family and the millions of people who love you across the country will carry you through this difficult test. YA GOTTA BELIEVE! Just like 1986, even down to the last strike, you can and will still win!
Chris Patsos
Brooklyn
Go Kid!
We love you!!!
Gary,
You were and remain my all time favorite ball player.You are apart of some of my fondest
childhood memories like the 86 series and seeing you play in the Astrodome.
You were an inspiration then as now. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Regards,
Bron Jones
Kid, God is the GREAT PHYSICIAN. I can’t wait to hear your testimony about your miracle healing.
Gary, Sandy & family
If I never see another game I will always remember game 6 of the 86 series. I was at Shea THAT NIGHT and being 2 rows from the top and over right field, we all rocked Shea. Your fans, will rock Shea (figuretively) for you in your battle. God will be with you on this journey. May He give you the strength to beat this. At my age (8l 3/4) and being a Mets fan from the beginning, I find that when we take one day at a time, it is easy to conquer anything.
by Dorothy S.
Praying for you, and for healing in Jesus’ name!
May God’s perfect peace be with you .
Gary, you’re the man. At 8 y.o., in Brooklyn, I wore #8 because of you. I wanted to hit dingers like you did in Game 4 of the W.S. I saw you at Macy’s in midtown with D. Gooden for a signing when i was about 12 y.o…I’m sorry that there’s no longer baseball in Montreal. I really hope you feel better. All the best. Best wishes!
God is not done with you yet! You will be back. Love ya, Kid!
Gary, great blessings to you and healing in the name of Jesus(Yashua). Victory will come to you and the end of suffering I pray, Amen.
Kid—
You have always been one of the most upbeat people I have ever known. You need that strength, and courage, positive attitude, and belief in yourself now, more than ever. There is so much love out here for you, and your family. Feel it. Draw from it. I’ll be pulling for you all the way. You can beat this thing. If anyone can, you can. It’s just another “Green Monster.” Nothing you haven’t conquered before. Best of luck.
Michael
Dear “KID”,
A little personal story here, while you were with the Expos I brought my two 8 yr. old nephews to a Mets game to see you. As luck would have it you were giving an interview right in front of us behind first base. All the kids were going wild screaming your name trying to get an autograph, you turned to them, asked them to keep it down and told them that you would be right there. After the five minute interview you then came over to the railing and signed autographs for about 45 minutes. THAT is class and from that day on you (even in an Expos uniform) were our favorite player. God bless you in your battle, this family is praying for you.
the name Gary Carter is a synonym for decency and toughness, one more tough game. You’ve been there before, let’s all join in prayer as a team with your loved ones and once again beat the odds..
Allways a NY Met
Gary,
I grew up as a kid with you being one of my heroes as a huge Mets fan. Just like your speech at Cooperstown, being a kid in the candy store, I was last year when I got a chance to play 18 holes with Bud and yourself. You were a legend to me but on the course you showed me you were human. I told the story for months and still do that on the 17th after a long day I hit a ball into the bush just off the green. You drove ahead and when I got there with Bud, you were on your knees looking in the bush to help me out. I wouldn’t expect less but there was the human side to the man I followed as a kid now down on one knee to help me out. Something so simple brought it into perspective. I will never forget the stories you shared that day and only wish you and your family the best during this battle. The legend and human side of you will battle this out and wishing you well.
Tom
Gary & Family: Just like the way you & the rest of the ’86 Mets never gave up hope so too shall you have that fighting spirit now. Only now you also have the support of every Met fan right by your side. Best of luck Gary and may God be with you!
Don S.
To the Carter family,
As a life-long Mets fan, one thing that has rung true is “Ya gotta believe,” and I believe you will pull through this as you did so many close games with the Mets. My thoughts and prayers are with you all and, like so many other fans here, I hope to see you back on the field throwing out the first pitch once you have finished treatments.
Caryn in NJ
gary don’t worry, god has a plan for you.
Gary,you were a warrior behind the plate and a leader when it was needed.I know you’ll win this battle,your combative spirit and God will guide you to get over this issue.
Blessings for you!
Leo Guerrero.
Miami,Florida.
Love, Peace and prayers to you and yours….
Gary,
My mom told me about the ’86 Mets and all about you. She said great things about you. I was born 7 years after you retired and I don’t know you, but I want to. You seem like a very nice person. I am not Christian, I am Jewish, but that doesn’t mean I don’t admire you. I hope that God blesses you to live a very long life. I would really love to meet you someday because you seem like one of the nicest Met players ever. I don’t have to say I hope you get through this because I know you will.
All the best,
Ariel Schwartz
Gary, Sandy and Family,
You will find that healing can encompass so much more than just the physical illness. It can help you discover new depths in your relationships; give you hope on the bad days, and the ability to enjoy the good ones to their fullest.
Peggy
Gary growing up you were my hero i always wore #8 get well soon man you are in my thoughts and prayers
Gary,
A life long Met fan originally from upstate N.Y. Moved to California after the “69” championship. “86” was a magical year and you were such a big part of it. Our thoughts and prayers in Northern California are with you and your family. You were a great Met and an even better person. God Bless.
GJK
Gary,
I wish you and your family the strength to get through these difficult times. You were an inspiration as a player and even more so as a person. Keep the faith and keep smiling, I will keep you in my prayers and wish you a full recovery and years and years of good health to come. God Bless.
Gary, the Lord is with YOU! You will be fine especially when we trust in the LORD! Every hair in our head is counted, thus, he knows all about us. I have a feeling, that you are going to beat this thing because you have put your trust in him!
Dear Gary, Sandy & Family,
Everyone, especially all baseball fans are rooting for you! We know that you can beat this awful disease. During your years as a baseball player, you’ve touched many, many lives, on & off the field. You gave METS fans the thrill of a life-time in 1986. All players from that team totally rock!!! We love you Gary and are praying hard for your fast recovery. Looking forward to seeing that winning smile at the 30, 40 & 50th year anniversaries of the 1986 NY METS~! Let’s Go Gary!!! We Believe in you because you are Amazing!!!
Gary,
I pray that you get well soon and that you are at Citifield to throw out the first ball once your chemotherapy and radiation treatments are over. In case you do not know, all things are possible when you believe in Jesus Christ and accept Him as your Lord and Savior. He can heal you of your brain cancer. He and His father are still in the miracle making business.
LTS
Being a Canadian, I had the opportunity to watch quite a few Expos games. Although I am a Blue Jays fan, you were one of my favourite players growing up. The enthusiasm you displayed playing this wonderful game has gone unmatched. You were an inspiration for a generation of young kids, and now we all are praying for a full recovery.
Hey, Gary,
Remember the grand salami you hit off Ron Darling in the 1984 home opener at Shea? Remember Dwight Gooden’s 1st All-Star appearance? He didn’t know the hitters so you held the glove where you wanted the pitch & he struck out the meat of the AL order? Remember the 1985 home opener at Shea? The game went to extra innings in cold rainy weather & you won it for us with a home run? I’ll always remember these and so many moments you gave us. All the best to you,
Pam from Manhattan
Keep fighting cancer just like you and your teammates fought off those impossible odds in Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. You have always been and will continue to be a true New York Met! You and your family are in my prayers! God Speed!!!!
–Mike Lichtenberger
Life-long Mets’ fan
Get well soon!!! U were my idol growing up. I will keep u in my prayers.
🙂
Gary and the Carter family,
You were an inspiration to a team, to an organization, and to the fans. You led by example on the field and I’m sure, in the clubhouse. Baseball stats can only convey so many positives in your career and life. Your talents are God-given and you gave everything you had to baseball. I, we appreciate, what you have done. Life is constantly changing, times for the better, others times, a struggle. Like you have shown within the lines, you will always step up to the plate, every at-bat, every swing, every throw, and every turn Life has thrown at you. We’re praying for your family and you at this difficult time.
SC
May God hold you in the palm of His hand, and reward you for all the joy you have brought so many people by the spirited way you always played the game of baseball. You are in my thoughts and prayers every day-none of us know how long we will be on this earth-but take it from a 75 yr. old-the trick is waking up each morning, being grateful to see the ceiling, and spending the rest of the day being grateful for the gift of today. Ifeel I have the same gift that a 16 yr.old has – Ihave TODAYLOve and prayers- S.Dee
Gary, Just got word of your condition and want you to know that you will be in my prayers. I’ll never forget how you treated me during your time in Dothan and at First Baptist Church in Atlanta as we
attended prayer meeting with the Meck. You have always been a fighter and this will be no different. Keep your spirit up and know that God will be with you and the family. Thanks for your testimony thru the years.
The Coach
Johnny Oppert
Gary;
My thoughts and prayers are with you in this difficuult time for you and your family…I wish you nothing but the best and that you may experience a full recovery and that I and many other Mets fans will continue to see your bright and smiling face for many more years to come
Best wishes always!!
Dear Kid,
I was 7 in 1986, and some of my strongest memories at that age involve you. I don’t know what goes into a child’s decision about who his favorite player is; my dad was a Keith fan, and my brother loved Darryl, but there was never a doubt that you were my favorite. Thank you for the part you played in my upbringing, and the excitement you instilled in me for the game of baseball. Thank you for being such a wonderful role-model and hero.
I wish you all the best, and have faith that your fighting spirit will keep you strong through this battle.
-Noah
For “THE KID”
Your impact on the game of baseball is legendary. Your impact on baseball fans is immense. Your impact on Mets fans is magical. May your recovery be the same, Kid. You have a nation –well, TWO nations — of fans praying for you!
Dear Gary, Eventhough I grew up south of Atlanta you were one of my favorite players. I got depressed when you retired in 1992 and wandered if my childhood would go away too. You’ve been a kind and gentle person all the time you were with the Met’s and Expo’s in the 1980’s and I remember you in the show “The Baseball Bunch” when Johnnie Bench brought you out and you and Johnnie caught The “San Diego Chicken” in a run-down between Third and Home; that was funny to watch. I’ve been a Christian since 1988 and want you to know that the same Jesus in “The Passion of The Christ” is going to be THE TENTH BATTER in your lineup!
Just want you to know I thought of Firey Furnace and Shaddrach,Meschach, and Abindingo. “BE STRONG in The LORD and the fullness of HIS MIGHT!
I love you, and hope I get to meet you one day, Dolan
Gary,
Keep fighting and Get Well Fast!
Forever Best wishes
Biehl Family
all the best to the best. our prayers and thoughts are with you and your family
Get well gary to a speedy recovery…
Gary – we still love you in Montreal. You will always be our hero. Our thoughts and best wishes are with you and your family.
Dear Gary,
Please stay strong!!! You were my childhood hero when I was watching the Mets as a kid!!! Please stay strong and you have many fans rooting for you!!!
Gary;
Draw strength from the Lord. Hold on to your faith. He will never leave you nor forsake you. Many are praying for you and with you. You already have the victory.
God Bless You!!
In our thoughts and prayers. My husband took one of his Mets hats and had KID 8 embroidered on the back of it in your honor! Whatever plans are meant for you we wish you all the strength in the world to beat this. Much love KID!!! Jenny and Ron Bultman
Dear Gary,,,, Want to you wish the best of luck fighting this illness. At me home, we are pulling for you. After all, those 86Mets gave us one of the greatest thrills of our lives.
Gary , Sandy and family
We are all praying for you. You are going to beat this. You are a hall of famer on and off the field and I look forward to the day you come back to Citi Field for the 30th anniversary of the 1986 team.
Keep on smiling and fighting. we are all with you
PVM