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 
GOD BLESS GARY…Keep the faith…We all love you and are pulling for you.
Sincerely, Susanne
DO KNOW,GARY, THAT WE ARE STORMING HEAVEN FOR YOU.
KEEP UP YOUR VALIANT EFFORTS. THANKS FOR BEING WHO YOU ARE
KAY
Gary, Long time a Met fan and your a Met to me. Keep the faith
and hang in here kid! God Blrss!!
Gary Carter, I became a Mets fan because of you. Long story, and very sweet. Most of my years playing was behind the plate in front of the umpire. I have been surrounded by cancer most of my life with my Grandmother and Father passing from it. My Mother is a survivor. I know from experience that this is a very tough ailment. I also know this is very beatable. Stay focused on being positive and if you like blueberries eat as many as you can, they really help. I wish all the cancer in you goes away. My thoughts, wishes and prayers are with you and your family.
Hey KID you gave it all on the Diamond in all your different uniforme especially while wearing the Orange & Blue of our Metropolitans & you will give it all through this ordeal – You have always been an inspiration to all of us & we in return can only offer the best of wishes in your getting well real soon ! #8 will always live in our hearts ! Thanks Rod Timmons -TrueBlueSince62
gary you rocked when you were a met you can rock harder and beat this cancer
Allan Smyth
Gary,
I met you in Port St. Lucie, FL on April 23, 2010, I helped run the PNC Bank signing event that you attended. I want to say that was the most enjoyable few hours or work ever and it was all because I got to hang out with you. I come across players through work from all kinds of sports. Some young, some old, some retired and some in their rookie year – but you were the nicest and most humble one of them all. You really do care about the fans. Even the pushy ones (Collectors etc.) I grew up collecting your baseball cards and watching you on tv. You always seemed like a good guy and I’m glad you turned out to be what I always thought you were. I want to say it was a nice highlight in my life to have met you. God bless you and your family and I wish you all the best on your recovery.
Billy
Gary,
We met a few years ago when you were in Columbia, SC helping the catchers for the Capital City Bombers. It was one the highlights of my life. You took the time to talk to me about your career and entering the Hall. It’s a story that I share often. You were my favorite player growing up and that moment only put icing on the cake! Thanks for the positive impact that you made in so many lives. You’re in my prayers.
Gary, every time I watched you play on TV, or have ever seen an image of you, you’ve had your signature grin. I hope you’ve still got it and that you never lose it. God bless you Gary, and all the best to you and your family.
Gary, Binghamton’s baseball fans are praying for you and thinking of you. I had the pleasure of meeting you a few times when you were the Mets roving minor league catching instructor. You always had time for the fans and I remember some conversations with you concerning catching prospects like Jason Phillips. God Bless You Always and good luck with your baseball team this year!
good luck god bless garry.
We have all always loved “the kid” . Keep fighting and know that all Mets fans will always be with you.
Gary,
You were a true champion and helped led the mets to the 1986 world series title. You are a True Champion now. You will get through this battle with cancer. Believe me when I say this, you will absolutely get through this battle. I say this because my dad is very sick himself. He has a non-cancerous tumor in his head, frontal lobe brain damage, Lyme Disease, Diabetes, and is know currently in the Hospital with Pneumonia. Not to get in a tangent about my dad but it helps me to prove my point. There has been instances where I could have lost him. The fact of the matter is that he is real champ about all of this nonsense. Oh and not to mention my dad is permanently wheelchair bound and totally dependent. My point of saying this is that he has pulled through all of this and what kept him going was his determination to live to see as many more Mets World Series Titles as he possibly can. Plus my dad is only shy of turning 60 years old. Anyways: you will get past this battle with brain cancer. I truly hope you get through this and you will live on and come to have a major position with the mets organization. I don’t know what that might be. As mets fans always say: you gotta believe! Believe in yourself Gary! We all believe in you and we all know you can fight the good fight. Regards to you and your family. Best of Luck with this fight. Believe in yourself.
Regards,
Seth Alterman
Gary, Thank you for being the heart and soul of a team that was the heart and soul of so many of us. We’re pulling for you like always, you just keep fighting!
Gary,
Wishing you all the best in your fight against cancer. God bless you.
we ALL Love you
Love ya kid please beat this!
Praying for you and your family!!! God Bless!
You are a special sports figure A fighter & A WINNER On and off the field!. Stay like you are! You will get through this battle! with God lead. I Wish to you & your family all the best in this new obstacle ahead of you! good luck HERO!
Hey Gary and family,
We are at the Western Canadian PeeWee AA Baseball Championship in Manitoba, Canada. Our Coach told the boys today we were playing for you! We, Team Saskatchewan, beat Team Alberta 13 to 1 in five innings. Thanks for the inspiration.
Stand tall brother!
As you can see.. you touched a lot of people over time and we all got your back.
My best to you and your family.
Get Well Gary! I have a drawing of you as a MET hANGING IN MY DEN. SIGNED BY YOU THE DAY AFTER YOU GUYS WON THE WORLD SERIES IN 1986! GOD BLESS &GET WELL!
Gary you’ll know when it is your time. But stay strong until then.
A survivor
Remain optimistic, Gary. You were, are and always will be know as “The Kid” to baseball fans. Personally, I thought you were not only an exciting player, but one of the nicest as well as the most talented players in the game. Plus, being a catcher you were also one of the toughest. Gary, use this same inner strength to help guide yourself through this current time in your life. As in baseball, you will come out of this ahead.
Ya Gotta Believe Gary! And we do…prayers are with you.
Get well Gary…GOD IS GREAT….everything is going to be alright…..
TO MY DEAR BROTHER IN CHRIST-GARY CARTER, YOU didn’t quit with a 2 strike count so don’t quit now with the RAPTURE -1Thess4:13-18 just around the corner.
WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU KID AND YOUR FAMILY. GOD BLESS YOU GARY.
SAVED TO SERVE, MICHELE
Gary I was a huge Expo’s fan here in Montreal back in the good old days(also became a Mets fan after the trade) You were always the classiest player on the team, and a true gentleman, also a hero of mine. May God bless you. Get better buddy we would love to see back up here some time.
Great player with a zest for life and the game we should try in our daily lives! Keep battlin’ and thanks for your time as an SF Giant, too, #8! That’s a pretty good catcher’s uniform number, by the way! Thanks for making catchers more cool – even though it’s always been the best spot on the field!! We’re with you, Gary!!
Gary loved you as a player more important respect you as a man. Thoughts and prayers are with you for a speedy recovery. God bless.
Matt
You are Mr. Met.and with Gods help you will overcome this fight.
Dear Gary #8, We are praying for you! Keep fighting just like 1986 !!!!
Hey slugger, keep slugging. You can win!!!
Gary Carter: You are a Champion. God bless.
GARY. MY GRANDSON KEITH AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL THE MEMORIES THAT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN THANK YOU
GARY,MY GRANDSON KEITH AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL THE GOOD MEMORIES ,
WHEN THE METS GOT YOU ON THE TEAM I WAS 20 YEARS OLD AND A MET FAN MY WHOLE LIFE . THAT DAY I KNEW IN MY HEART THAT THE KID FROM MONTREAL WAS ALL THE MAN THE METS NEEDED TO WIN IT ALL 108 WINS AND A WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP LATER ALL THOSE YEARS OF FRUSTRATION AND HEARTACHE ON THE FIELD WAS OVER. IT MADE IT ALL THE SWEETER AND THE SATISFACTION I FELT WILL STAY WITH ME FOREVER AND I THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART . WE COULDNT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU IN THE MIDDLE OF OUR LINEUP AND CALLING THE GAME AND PLAYING THE GAME RIGHT JUST LIKE A KID …
Gary,
A friend phoned and told me my hero had a tough road ahead of them, that you had cancer and I was stunned. I’m from a small town in Alberta Canada and have grown up with the best role model as my hero, you. For the last two years I have been trying to get to your golf tournament to support your charitable cause. I’m looking forward to your recovery so I can meet “the great number eight.”
Gary,
A friend phoned and told me my hero had a tough road ahead of them, that you had cancer and I was stunned. I’m from a small town in Alberta Canada and have grown up with the best role model as my hero, you. For the last two years I have been trying to get to your gold tournament to support your cause. I’m looking forward to your recovery so I meet the great number eight.
Gary
May knowing how we are all feeling for you bring you inspiration in the way that we were inspired by your authentic feelings toward all of us fans.
Keep up the good fight, Kid! Many prayers for you!
Gary- Hang in there. My wife was diagnosed with AA a step below your grade. One year later the tumor is gone and she’s doing okay.
Keep the faith, believe!!!!
Dear Mr. Carter:
I was eight years old, when I witnessed you help lead the Mets to a World Series title. That was awesome.
You made playing the position of catcher cool. I relished playing the position and developing relationships with my pitchers by carefully observing and learning from you. Thank you.
Gary, you have always been a fighter, a leader, and a person to be admired. And even in this fight against this disease, you will approach with class and you will give it your all. I am rooting for you “Kid”. My wishes and prayers are with you.
Mr Carter, God bless you and your family. My wife just beat breast cancer so I know how difficult the treatments can be. Keep fighting Mr Carter, you are in our thoughts and prayers. The gomez Family.
Gary,
May God bless you and keep you strong as you fight this disease. Be well.
“The Kid” helped bring a championship to NY in 86 and you were a great leader all those years.and we hope you have many years left to impact other people’s lives.
Godspeed, Gary. We love ya.
YOU ARE A GREAT GUY GARY……WHEN I LIVED IN PBG YRS AGO I SAW YOU
UP CLOSE AND HOW YOU TREATED PEOPLE….YOU NEVER ” BIG LEAGUED”
ANYONE……..AND YOU WERE A GREAT INSPIRATION TO MY NEPHEW
MIKE TERHUNE WHEN HE WAS PLAYING IN PORT ST LUCIE……I THINK I
SAW YOU TOO WHEN A ROOKIE ON THE WEST PALM BEACH EXPOS (A BALL)
YOU WERE 18 -19 THEN AND WELL LIKED BY THE FANS ….AND LOVED BY ALL
THIS VERY DAY…….THANKS FOR ALL GARY…….\
JOHN TERHUNE HERSHEY PA
MTER257@NETZERO.NET
God Bless ya KID!! Shea faithful will never forget you and what you brought to Queens in the 80’s….hang in there Gary!!
One of your biggest fans left us six months ago. I know she’s smiling down on you and storming heaven on your behalf. Know you’re in my prayers. Thanks for all the good memories.
Keep fighting, Kid! We’re all rooting for you and always will.
Gary, you’re one of my favorite all time New York Mets. When reading about your current condition I was truly moved. Both of my thoughts and prayers are with both you and your family. I will never forget your presence in a Mets uniform helping the Mets win The 1986 World Series.
Once a New York Met always a New York Met so take comfort in all of us New York Mets fans behind you praying that your recover from this Illness! God bless you and your family.
God Bless You Gary