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 
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this time. Mr. Carter, you are truly one of the kindest men in baseball. I had the pleasure of meeting you several times during the Mets Spring Training camps and you never turned a fan away who was hoping for an autograph or photo. I remember one year I approached you about my niece starting college softball. I believe your daughter Kim had just finished college and I asked you advice for my niece. You stayed and answered questions I had and you even approached me the next day and gave me your daughters phone number to call if I wanted to find out anything else. There aren’t many people in professional sports that would do that. You were there for your fans. I truly wish you the very best. God Bless You Mr. Carter.
Joann & Jerry Melillo
Wood-Ridge, NJ
Stay Vigorous Gary we are all pulling for you Champ!
Gary-
I, along with countless Mets fans, baseball fans, and people everywhere, want to pass along my hopes and prayers for a full recovery. The faith, heart, and spirit you always showed on the field will – I’m certain – sustain you through this time.
I will never forget the excitement my friends and I felt when we heard the news that you’d been traded to our beloved Mets. We knew you were the type of player, and the type of person, that could face down any challenge and come out on top. A winner. A champion. But mostly, an example for other players, kids, and baseball fans everywhere, and for people anywhere who can recognize the fundamental goodness and decency that some people – people like you, Kid, exude.
That was then, and this is now. I’m a father now, with two teenage sons who are good kids. I’m blessed to have them, as you are with your fine family. Driving in the car the other day, I told my younger son all I could remember about you, not just as a player, but as an example. I asked him to remember you in his prayers, as I do in mine.
Stay strong, 8. Stay positive. Show the world that spirit of ’86 one more time.
May God Bless you and your family. May the Holy Spirit work through yours doctors to inspire them through your treatment. May all your days be filled with blue skies, gentle breezes, and the greenest of grass…
… and a fat one right down Broadway that you’ll easily take downtown!
Vic Laurinavicius
Upper Freehold, NJ
Get well soon, Gary! You are a good friend to the NY & St Lucie Mets Booster Club! We’ve missed you since you left coaching the St Lucie Mets and it’s always a pleasure to see you! Our prayers are with you!
Dora
VP Mets Booster Club
Beat this thing!!!
Gary – You’ve always been a fighter, and you have what it takes to fight this one!
All the best – the Chapman Family
Dear Gary-
We met at LGA airport the day of the press conference to welcome you to the METS. We chatted and you were kind enough to provide an autograph. I display it proudly in my METS collection. You have always been one of my favorite METS players. I want to wish you all the very best with the health issues. My prayers will be with you for a FULL recovery. Stay strong and keep the faith.
Your friend,
Gordon
Kid, Myself, and all of the baseball world is praying for you. Keep fighting and stay positive, you’ll beat this thing.
Just on a quick personal note, you’re the reason why I am such a HUGE Met fan..my mother who isn’t a HUGE sports fan had your jersey and you were her favorite, same with my father so I was born into it..i know times are rough for the Mets org. now and yourself, but everything will turn around.
God Bless You and Your Family.
Nick of FloppingOut.com
God Bless Gary. Erik
Get well soon Gary, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers everyday
Best of luck, keep battling.
Strick
Our thoughts and prayers are with you Gary for a full recovery.
Ginny & Jerry
I will be wearing my #8 jersey rooting for the Mets as always. My prayers go out to you and your family.
Gary, I wish you and your family the very best. Unfortunately, I was not born yet when you and the 86 Mets team won the World Series. I was born just a few months after in December. But as I learned more and more about that team through the years, I realized what I truly missed out on. One of the things that I learned is that you were always a positive, strong individual. Stay strong. I know with your optimistic attitude that you will.
My mother is currently battling Multiple Myeloma, so I can see first hand what your battle will be like. Some days will be tougher than others. But just know that you have the strength and attitude to beat this, and that we are all here for you and thinking of you.
i just wanted to send Gary my get well wishes and prayers….Always loved to watch you….nothing but respect….i never heard a bad word said against him….Your life is in the almightys hands now….Please dont ever lose faith……
Dear Gary,
You are in our prayers!! Fight hard and you can do it!!
Sean
Best wishes to my all-time favorite Met. As a champion and leader, we know you have the fight to defeat this!
all the best,
Raff
Best wishes Gary for your recovery. Thank you for all the great baseball memories. I loved how you played the game. May you and your family gain strength everyday in this trying time. Know that your fans are with you! LET’S GO METS!
jah
San Diego, CA
To the carter family,
I was 6 years old when I watched game 6 of the 86 series. Thanks for introducing me to baseball. You will be in. My prayers. Hang tough. -Alex-
Dear Gary,
The Mets never had a player with the heart and determination that you have always shown. My prayers and wishes for you are that you can and will beat this insidious disease. Keep your spirits positive and maintain that infectious smile as you defeat this enemy. God bless you!
Hi Gary, I’ve talked to you on the golf course, I’ve seen you in uniform at the Mets stadium, I’ve gotten your autograph at promotional events. You’re like a friend to me. I live in South Florida and hope to meet you again some day soon. You are in my prayers. Take care, speedy recovery. Tom Prestopnik
Warm wishes for the good fight you are going to give. God bless you and your family.
Hey Kid,
I’m not much of a praying man, but I wish you the best and I have every confidence you’ll get through this.
Hang in there,
Geoff Hayton
Get Well Mr. Carter. You are an inspiration to many mets fans and kids who dream one day to play in the big leagues. Do not give up the fight. Never ever give up.
My family and I wish you the very best. You meant a lot to my childhood and all the days in the yard with my father playing catch and talking about how you were our favorite player. I wish you a speedy recovery. Get well soon Kid we love you.
Get well soon. bad things happen to good people, but they seem to always work out! I’ll be praying for you Gary!
Gary, I pray for your recovery. I have so many incredible memories of you as a player and the stories I heard about what a wonderful person you were. I used to drive by your house on Cove Run!
I pray for strength for you and your family as you deal with this horror. Keep fighting, Kid!!
Gary,
I remember my first-ever Met game 25 years ago, watching you and the 1986 Mets do your thing en route to a championship. This battle, though tough, is one you definitely can win. We’re all praying for you, Kid, and Met fans all over the world look forward to your eventual recovery. God bless.
Matt
No gushing about memories of baseball games gone by, just a sincere wish that your best seasons are still ahead of you. So many of us are pulling for you…a simple “Get well….soon.” will have to do.
BEST wishes on a speedy and complete recovery.
Best wishes to the kid and his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. Thank you for all you’ve done for us!
Gary,
You are not alone through this. Many of us are praying for you during your hour of need. Keep a positive attitude and believe in a higher power. Remember the Mets motto. “Ya Gotta Believe!” You’ve brought many a Mets fan so much happiness during your time with us. I remember picking up my Mother and twirling her around the room when you were a part of winning Game 6 for us. It’s a lasting memory in my mind and you are one of the reasons for this. I thank you for that. Please be strong and continue to fight. We know you are a fighter. I believe in you. Best wishes and all my prayers to you and your family Gary. Be strong!
Dave Jackson
Bayonne, N.J.
Dear Mr. Carter,
Have faith. As someone who has gone through what you are about to go through, put your life and faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and he will deliver you from this disease.
God Bless you and yours during this trying time.
You and the rest of the ’86 Mets were the reason I fell in love with baseball all over again. I can’t picture the world without your positive attidude and overwhelming dedication to not only the Mets fans, team, and organization but to the sport and the world itself. Get well soon, Kid!
Get Well Kid! We love you and are praying for your speedy recovery.
Gary get well soon we wish u the best and hope to see your number retired soon at citi field. Spring Training 1989 you made me so happy by taking time out of your day to sing an autograph for me when u could have just brused me aside . I wish you the best and a speedy recovery
Martell Family
Orlando fla
Kid Carter,
You and your family are in my thoughts. You were the best catcher in Mets history. You and the ’86 Mets played with the most heart I have ever seen in my life and I am sure you big heart will help you through this.
Mike Stevenson
We are all think of you, and here’s to quick recovery.
Be well Gary. I am fighting cancer as well. We will both come out the other side better than ever.
Steve brown
As my grandfather always said, “we’re rootin’ for ya.” We’re all rooting for you Gary. Get well soon.
Gary and Family,
Keep the faith and know that the Lords plan will be done. Stay optimistic as miracles do happen and live happy in the knowledge that you positively impacted many lives. I wish you strength, courage and the will to fight for life. May God keep you in his grace and bestow continued blessings on your family.
Get well soon,
Juan Cifuentes and Family
(Born a diehard Mets fan)
LGM
Gary,
We are all praying and pulling for you here in Mets land sending our prayers to you and your family. All the positive energy of millions of fans are coming your way everyday, praying for your recovery. Thank you for being an amazing dude and for everything you have brought to the game.
Get better soon Kid,
Chris Tricarico
All the best, Kid! Thinking of you and your family~
Take it on Kid. You were the best at what you did and we look forward to hearing more about what you did from you in the years to come. Live strong.
Patrick
Gary,
In this tough time, you are truly blessed. You have your faith in God, the love of your family and the support of millions of fans who appreciate how you played the game. We all pray for you.
On a personal note, thanks for the wonderful memories of how the game of baseball should be played.
Tom Galvin
Get well, Kid. We love you.
Gary,
You were amazing for the amazins and I wish you the best of luck. LETS GO METS!!!
You didn’t give up in that 10th inning and I know you will not give up now. I am rooting for you as always. God bless.
Steve Console, Scottsdale AZ
My prayers go out to you and your family Gary, God bless you. You CAN and WILL beat this!!!!!
A little before my time (I was 3 when we won in 86) but a Met is a Met and I know what he meant to this organization, to the fan base, and to me.
Our thoughts and prayers are with “The Kid” and his family. Fight the fight and keep strong.
Gary, Baseball has always been at the cornerstone of my life. From going to games with my dad to playing wiffle ball for our with the guys on my block.
I still remember where I was in college when you hit that single up the middle to win the playoff game against the astros. And then the ultimate, watching my favorite team, the team I had rooted for my whole life with the world series.
I remember watching Monday Night Football and hearing the announcement that you were acquired from the Expos for hubie brooks (and some other guys I can’t remember).
You were an instrumental part in that championship coming to NY & I remember standing on ledge in NYC as we celebrated “our” championship.
I want to thank you for contributing to some of the best times of my youth.
when I became a dad myself I learned how truly precious life is and ow nothing should be taken for granted.
You have always had an amazing ability to smile and I pray that you keep that spirit up during this time.
My prayers and best wishes are with you and the entire Carter Family.
Keep on swinging and don’t ever let anyone or anything take that smile from you.
God Bless!
Much Love,
joe amoia