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 
We love you Gary and pray that God will take care of you. Thank you for providing many great moments over your career. Baseball is a special part of people’s lives because of classy athletes like you.
You will always be part of some of my greatest childhood memories and for that I am forever greatfull. Wishing you a speedy recovery Kid! Hope to see you back on the field soon!
Keeping you and your family in prayer. Praying for strength and stamina.
Keep up the fight!!!
Mr. Carter,
I pray for you each day. Hang in there.
Dave Poulsen
Lenox, Massachusetts
To Gary and Family,
My best wishes to you! You are in my prayers. I remember how much excitement the Kid brought to the Mets and the whole city. I’ll never forget getting updates on the #7 train during Game 6 against Houston in the 1986 NLCS. The whole city was watching and listening and then celebrating!
I am an original NY Met fan & only wish Gary Carter the best luck in his fight with cancer .
Al Raimer
Tamarac Fl
Thoughts & prayers to you Gary and your family through this challenging time.
Gary, all Mets fans wish you a full and speedy recovery.
Gary, God bless you and your family. You always gave your best and as a fan of baseball for 60 years, I greatly admired your enthusiasm, talent and style of play.
Baseball nees your continued involvement for many years to come.
Dear Gary:I have been a Met Fan since its beginning. I was present at the 1986 World Series. You along with Keith, Daryl, Dwight, Ron and so many others brought happiness to millions of Met Fans. I am now living in Rome Italy and have learned of your illness. Please be assured of my prayers for you and your family. I log on to the Mets website daily for information on the Team and its current and former players. Remember the cry of Tug McGraw another Met favorite “You Gotta Believe. Bro. Gregory Lucrezia, S.A.a true Met Fan.
HELLO GARY CARTER, WANT TO WISH YOU THE BEST AS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY GO THROUGH THIS MEDICAL ORDEAL, I AM PART OF THE NY METS FANS THAT WANT THE BEST FOR YOU, I KNOW ITS NOT EASY FOR I HAVE BEEN BORN WITH A BIRTH DEFECT, HAVE STRUGGLED VWITH MRSA AND KNOW ITS NOT GOING TO BE EASY. FAITH DOES MOVE MOUNTAINS. I AM WRITING TO YOU FROM A HOSPITAL IN CT RECOVERING FROM GALLBLADDER REMOVAL SURGERY. I CAN AND DO SYMPATHIZE WITH YOU. MAY GOD-BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ALWAYS. METS FAN SINCE 69.
I so enjoyed watching you play…I believe catchers more than any position play the game how it is to be played. I wish you and your family nothing but the best. You are in my prayers brother catcher.
you’re one of my favorite Mets of all time. And a great likable guy from what I saw. And I’ve been a Mets fan all my life. I’m 52. Let’s Go Gary!! Let’s Go Gary!!
Mr. Carter and family,
My thoughts and prayers go to you and your family in this time. Keep a positive attitude and you should come out of this on top. I have been a fan of the METS and your career for a loing time.
You are in our prayers Gary Carter and family. You were a great player and we wish you the very best from Cardinal Nation.
Gary may the good Lord watch over and provide you comfort as you deal with your medical issues. You’ll always be a Met to me, although your tenure with the Expo’s wasn’t to shabby Lol, laugh, live and enjoy your life. Kudo’s to your Family as some folks just don’t understand it’s a Family ordeal. God Bless you Mr. Carter you helped make my life complete, I just Pray my letter finds it way to you and we see that Gary smile again. Peace
I have a picture of you (which I don’t know how to scan in) at the the end of game 6.I keep this as the ultimate epitome of joy. Please get well!!!!! The world needs what you portray!!!!
To Gary and the Carter family,
I have been a Met fan since 1962 when I was 10. I loved your enthusiasm and will to win. I know that you are using it now. May God bless you.
You are my favorite Baseball player of all time Gary and the reason I was a catcher as a kid. I have followed the Mets through all the ups and downs but it has never deterred my loyalty to the blue and orange. Stay strong and Best Wishes!
To my favorite Met of the 80’s, best wishes Gary. We’re all with you and pray for your recovery.
Randy Kirik, Huntington, CT
You are the reason that catcher is my favorite baseball position ~ the 86 Mets were my favorite team! My son was 3 when he was diagnosed with brain cancer…we just celebrated his 10 birthday! Jesus was with us every step of the way and we are praying for you and your family. God bless you and your precious family!
You have always been a fan favourite in Canada, Gary, and I remember the commercials with your daughter Kristi and those selling bedding. Always a class act!
Get well soon!
Gary:
I’ve always been a fan. We almost share a birthday, you April 8, 54, me April 9, 54, I’ve followed your career from Expos to the Mets, moving to NYC the same year you came to the Mets. Keep fighting! We’re praying for you
Ron
Always the Kid, always the heart.Set the stage for enthusiasm…and being genuine in a world that wasn’t always ready for that. Wishing you all best in this fight, Gary. My galpals and I went to spring training in ’87 after the AMAZIN ’86. You were swell to everyone, including us. Keep that megawatt smile and fighting heart. We are here for you!
You’re a catcher and you will fight this because catchers never quit!
Gary Carter! I’ve been a Mets fans especially in the 1986 when the Mets won the World Series against the Red Sox. May God Bless you and get well! Ricardo Figueroa New York Mets Fan! LETS GO METS
Best wishes from a lifelong cardinals fan. Thanks for some great memories, even when the wrong guys won.
Hope you are continuing to do well in your fight. My prayers are with you and your wonderful family. You gave us baseball to cherish during your tenure in Shea Stadium. Be well & happy.
Gary: My family and I were Expos fans and you provided us with so many great memories. You’re still beloved in Canada. We’re in your corner for this fight. Hang in there pal. God bless you.
Gary,
Although I was born and raised in the Bronx, you were one of the reasons I was a Met fan. Thank you for all the memories . You were a great leader and true fan favorite. I wish you all the best through this battle. My prayers are with you.
Gary – we are praying for your recovery. In my eyes, you were always the rock on that ’86 team and I’ll never forget how you started the 10th inning rally with that 2 out, 2 strike base hit. get well soon so you can get back to the bigs as a manager.
Keith – Elmsford, NY
From a fan who was at your first Met game with your 10th inning walk off, Good Luck and Gods speed in your recovery! Plus we both have wifes named Sandy!
Gary,
We miss you in New York. (Ducks fans and Mets fans alike). Get well soon, Our prayers are with you and your family. God Bless You!
Your fan,
Mike Cipriano
Sayville, NY
Best Wishes from this Tigers fan. All of baseball is rooting for you.
Gary,
Best wishes, keep fighting, and you will win the battle as you always have.
Alan
Hope things are going well, Gary. I was an Expos fan throughout your tenure with the club and always considered you the true face of the franchise. I haven’t heard how your treatments are going but, needless to say, I hope they are working. Best of luck, Kid. You will never be forgotten.
Pete Fodey
Brockville, Ontario
For all the fund memories you gave us in NY the little we can do is pray for you and wish that God will bles you with patience as we all know that you will beat this! God Bless you and all your close loved ones!
Forgot how to spell?
Gary, you gave us a lot of great memories. Our prayers are with you and your family. Keep fighting
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you cope with this crisis, and know we are there for you whenever you need us.
You were truly AMAZIN’ on the field! My favorite!!
May God bless you in your battle and help you win!!
Get well Gary. Out thoughts and prayers are with you. We need you to be the Manager of the Mets, and lead them to victory. Have Faith, that’s what it’s all about. God bless you and your family at this time. Mike
Get Gary….We need you to lead the Mets to Victory. You are my all time favorite. We are praying for your complete recovery. Have Faith. That’s what it’s all about. Faith in God.
Mike
god bless you Kid.
Class act and played the way baseball should have been played. Loved JBench growing up and then followed you..the best.
Praying for you and your family..
Shawn
My late grandma was a diehard mets fan, and would tell me stories as a kid about the year that the mets won the world series. The mets alot to her and I thank you from her and my family for leading the mets to win, and goodluck and hope you get well soon.
Gary, you provided me with countless images of fantastic baseball. I wish you all the best in your battle, and pray that all works for you. God bless, and thank you for your many years as a professional!
D.I. DiPinto Jr. Providence, RI
All the best to “The Kid” & his family! Fight the fight like you always do!!!!
You were my favortie player in 86. Wish you the best!
Thoughts and prayers are with you. Get well soon Gary.
You were such a great competitor on the field. You always gave 100%, so I know you will use that same determination to overcome this diversity. Get well soon.
To The Carter Family:
I love baseball, favorite sport all time. Die hard Met fan, even caught a heart attack last year watching a game on TV. Loved you with the Expos and even more when you came to the NY Mets and won it all. Thank you for that.
You are a fighter and will win this bout. Take care and be well. G-d Bless You.