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,
As an 8 year old boy, you were one of my heroes. Over the years, life continues in new and challenging ways, but you are still a hero to me. In fact, more so now than when you caught for the Mets. I am praying for you and hoping that you will pull through as you did time and again at the plate. I also pray for your family and that God will give your doctors the wisdom and skill they need to assist you as you battle the cancer. Stay strong, keep positive and may God bless you!
Sincerely,
Jason Ervin
Get well soon! You are in all of our thoughts.
Gary. you were a big reason we won in 1986 and I know you will win this fight. You are in my prays and hope you to see you on the field at Citi. God bless you.
Hang in there, Kid! We’re pullin’ for ya!
It’s game 6 all over again. You will win this battle. My prayers are with you. God Bless.
Praying for you Kid! My all time favorite Met.
I always admired you Gary…from your infectious smile to your skills as a player…I want to wish you the best in what’s to come. I am thinking and praying for you….from a life long Mets fan and a life long Gary Carter fan…love ya! Kat
Gary,
You were clearly the final piece to the puzzle that led to 1986. It was your determination and hard-nosed play that we respected when you were an Expo and loved when you were a Met that will help you get through this. Stay as positive a force as you have always been. Get well soon!
Howie
You were determined not to go in the history books as being the final out of the 1986 World Series. That determination is going to see you through. Praying for a speedy recovery. Get well soon Gary!
Dear Gary, Thank you so much for all the thrills you gave us as a Met! You are the face, the heart and the soul of our ’86 Mets and always will be. You are forever in my prayers, Get well soon! Love you, Teri
Hang in there Kid.
get well soon always remembering the 86 world series a great series
Gary, your fans are cheering even harder for you now. Draw on our strength in your current battle. I bet you’ll bat 1000!
I never saw you play a game that I didn’t enjoy watching. Now, please allow me to share this prayer with you:
O Saint Peregrine, you who have been called “The Wonder-Worker” because of the numerous miracles which you have obtained from God for those who have had recourse to you, who for so many years bore in your own flesh this cancerous disease that destroys the very fiber of our being, and who had recourse to the source of all grace when the power of man could do no more: you who were favored with the vision of Jesus coming down from His Cross to heal your affliction, ask of God and Our Lady the cure of these sick persons whom we entrust to you Gary Carter. Aided in this way by your powerful intercession, we shall sing praise to God for His great goodness and mercy. Amen.
Gary,
I’m not sure if 8 was my favorite number and that’s how you became my favorite player or vice versa. You’re the reason why I picked up a glove and ball and the bat. I wish you the best. You’re an all time great. Get well.
Gary, I worked at Shea back in the 80’s and met you a number of times. You have always been one of the nicest players ever to the fans! It saddens me that you are going through such a horrible time but please know you are in my prayers always. I know God will be there with you every step of the way as you battle this disease. God bless you and your familyand may God give you the strength to to get through this and live a long, happy life.
Much love..Roseanne Quinones
Being a Mets fan in the 80’s was great fun. I have lots of great memories of watching you play. You are an inspiration and a role model to all the kids who put on the uniform. If anyone can overcome this – you can. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Hope to see you at Citifield soon. God Bless you and your family!!!!!
Virginia
Gary, I’m sending good thoughts and prayers your way in hopes for a speedy recovery! You’re a fighter, and with all the good people pulling for you, I have no doubt you can beat this!! God Bless!!
Gary you are in our thoughts and prayers as you go through this battle!!!! Stay strong and positive you can beat this!!! All our love The Breschard Family
Get well soon, Kid! I’ll never forget the day when I was at Shea. You hit a 3-run homer in the first and a grand slam in the second. Next pitch was at Stawberry’s head and a near riot ensued.
I wish you all the best. Hope to see you at the new stadium again soon.
Get well Gary!!! it was awesome when you played for the mets….you made the games so exciting because of the way you played!! I still am a huge mets fan…have been since I was 5 years old…I know it is just a game but sometime back then when it was not so good you made the whole day seem ok just because you won the game!!!! Your daughter is awesome for going on line and letting us keep up with how you are doing. I hope you get better in the coming months and this all will be behind you…take care Gary and THANKS…….FOR THE MEMORIES!!!!!
Hi Gary. I have been a Met’s fan since 1967. When you joined us in the 80’s I knew we had a big missing part filled in. Your HEART was the heart the Mets were missing. You treated it like a game & you made it fun. You gave it your all because you Loved it. You rubbed off on all the others especially the youngsters & it was this Spirt you brought to the team that gave it its Never Say Die attitude which carried it to it’s first World Chamionship since 1969. We need it now Gary so you keep that attitude & get better, so that today’s Mets can see it work. God Bless you Gary . You are in my prayers. Fran
Gary,
You have been a hero to me since I was 7 years old. Thank you for that. I am now wishing you the best in this fight. We know you can beat it! Best wishes for a speedy and full recovery! G0d Bless!
Allison Tuckman – life long Mets fan!
Old Bridge, NJ
Dear Gary,
I was 12 the year you won the world series. You were my favorite player, I had the carter jersey and all. My twin sister was a Wally Backman fan, but we loved our Mets. I’m grateful for the world series, but I am even more grateful that you were such a wonderful role model for me. You never got into any trouble, there was never any reason for me to get teased, or to have a difficult conversation with my parents about what you were up to. You played the game with dignity and I will always appreciate that, especially now that I have my own kids. I can only hope that they will someday find a role model like you…Thank You!
I was very saddened to hear you are sick, I hope and pray that you get better and that God gives you and your family the strength that you will need to get through this. If there is such a thing as Karma, I’m sure that you will pull through 🙂 Good Luck!
Gary, get well, not gonna say soon. I don’t care how long it takes, just get well
Dear Gary;
I was a nine-year old Mets fan in 1986, living in Whitestone, Queens, and the NY Mets were the center of my world. You were my hero of heroes, I wore #8 and played catcher for my Little League team, and tried to play the game with the same passion and enthusiasm that you did. You provided me with the memory of a lifetime 25 years ago, and remain my favorite baseball player of all-time to this day.
You have and will always embody what it is to be a NY Met, a professional, and a hero to so many. You are and will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers every day until the day you are declared cancer-free and have beaten this thing. Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
Michael Spinner
Gary,
You were my favorite baseball player growing up, and the reason I still wear #8 in softball today. I’m praying for you and your family. Get well soon!
Dave Carney
You are in many poeples thoughts and prayers. As many fans lives you touched on and off the field during your career, are the same amount of people multplied tenfold that are pulling for you now. God Bless you and your family because we all know “The Kid” can pull this off if anyone can. You always will be “clutch” in our hearts.
Gary, there isn’t enough space in this little box to convey just how much your work, attitude and faith meant to me as a child. You never gave up on the field, you never ‘mailed it in’, especially when the chips were down. Your example and good nature were appreciated by those outside the lines, and this same spirit will see you through now. Godspeed and get well soon, Gary!
Thoughts and prayers are with you and your familY. Get well soon!
Gary, you were my first favorite baseball player, when I was a ten-year-old Little League softball catcher (even though I really had no athletic ability whatsoever.) I became a Mets fan because of you and am an even more dedicated one today. In the same way, I wish you and your loved ones the strength to stay dedicated to getting through this fight you’re in, and I pray for you to get well.
Best of luck, Gary. I was 2 months shy of my 4th birthday when the Mets won in ’86. I have pictures of my Dad and I on the couch watching game 6. Although I was too young, I live that moment through countless videos. It gives me chills! You were a HUGE part of one of my greatest memories. I’m praying for you and your family through these trying times. Get well soon.
Dear Gary,
I would just like to wish you a speedy recovery. You were a fighter on the field and I’m sure this will help you along with your family to get through this.
Get well, Kid. Pretend it’s Opening Day, 1985, bottom of the 10th…
Gary, We Met fans “need ya kid”. Hope you get through this period in your life. I have NO doubt about that. So, GET WELL real soon and we Met fans will be there through it all rooting you on…”LET’S GO GARY”
Dear Gary,
I’ve heard time and time again that a lot of people that survive this fight are the ones who are all positive, have a good attitude and someone who can see sun shine on a cloudy day. And ‘Kid” you fit that like a catchers glove. I wish you nothing but the best … good luck!!!!
Best wishes for a quick recovery!
Fight the good fight, Gary. Thank you for being you! Get well soon!
Bowie & Family
I was 15 when you gave Jesse Orosco that EPIC hug on the mound. You always represented the joy of baseball to me Gary. I was at your opening game at Shea. Pretty sure you homered. God Bless Kid, your fans are all standing up for you.
steve gibbons
Brooklyn NY.
Faith, love & strength can work miracles. Know we are all sending our best thoughts your way. We hope to see you for many ‘Old Timer’s Days’ to come.
Gary best wishes. As the New York Mets say “You gotta believe”. When you believe amazing things can happen. Don’t give up kid you have a whole blue and orange army behind you every step of the way. Stay in there and stay strong.
Gary,
You’ve been my hero ever since I first watched a Mets game in 1985. As I’ve grown to adulthood you’ve become even more of an inspiration. You’ve been a role model to me of a man who pursued excellence in his career & making the most of his gifts & talents, while building a strong family and maintaining genuine faith in the Lord.
When I first saw you at the age of 7, I wanted to be like you. I am now 32, and I still want to be like you. Thank you for everything you’ve meant to me.
I am praying for you & your family, and I know that come what may, God will be glorified in your life.
Lance Miller
Hi Gary I grew up in Queens and you are one of my favorite memories. I am a 60 year old woman and never forgot the day I was at the game and you were catching and I told my son I have to get his picture, I have to and the camera didn’t work too well and I punched it because I couldn’t get your picture. Now I see don’t sweat the small stuff, but to me you were a big deal So anyway Gary get better soon Kid. I’m praying for you. Pat D
Get well soon Gary
Dear Gary,
When I was a kid and still to this day, all I did was root for my Mets and my two favorite players on the team…. Gary Carter & Keith Hernandez. I do not know you personaly but you were a big part of my life growing up. Prayers are sent to you and your family every day. Stay strong and I know if anyone can overcome something like this, I will be you.
Gary Carter – Great player, Class act, humble. Thank you for all you did for the game. Stay strong.
Junior Hernandez
Gary, Hang in there Kid. We want u to be there for the 50th celebration of the 86 team. May God keep on blessing u and your family as you conquer this battle of cancer. Get well soon.
Anthony F. Johnson
Good Luck Gary! Mets havent been the same since that Championship team.
I always admired the way you played the game, I have no doubt that you can face what’s before you with the same grit and guts! I know there are many prayers going out for you, mine included, God bless you Gary!
Mr. Carter…Being a METS fan has always been a ‘tough job’…especially in New York with the ‘other team’!! But then you came to our team….and made being a METS fan a ‘much easier job’….and a reason to be prouder than normal!!! You have given my sister and I such fond memories…especially 1986!! So with that said…I want to wish you and your family God’s Blessings for a speedy recovery!!! You are all in my thoughts and prayers!!! ❤
Mr. Carter,
You’ve been one of my favorite all-time Mets & I actually got into baseball by following those ’86 Mets. It’s because of you & very few others that I continue to be a Met fan after all these years. You’ve always been a class act and profession who many of today’s athletes can learn from. I pray that the Lord touches you with a speedy recovery & that He blesses your family & close friends with the patience & strength they need as they walk through this season with you. Thanks for being you!
Marcus