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 
Gary you are in my prayers. I am a fan since day one — game 1 at the Pol Grounds in 1962. You are my all time favorite (with a couple of close seconds). My sons loved you too. I do believe in God and I pray for you and your family every day. And I pray for the Mets— they need help!!! But you gotta believe!!!!
Praying for you Kid!
I grew up a Yankees fan in Brooklyn, but we went to a ton of Mets games in the 80s. It was always a pleasure to watch Gary Carter. He played the game the way it was supposed to be played – gritty and hard-nosed, but always classy. Thank you for the many memories you provided – the best? A game-winning grand slam against the Braves in ’85. It was the first grad slam I ever saw – Thanks Kid, I wish you the best.
Gary, you have pulled the Mets and their fans through some tough times during your career. It is now our turn to send out our prayers and best wishes to get YOU through this time in your life. You’ve always been a winner, and now is no exception! You can do it.
thanks for the GREAT memories — wishing you the best for the future — my prayers are with you and your family
mot only a fine gentleman and a geat ballplayer our prays are with you
Gary – Mets fan since 1962. You are simply the best catcher this team ever had (sorry Mike Piazza). You gave us many great memories but the best is yet to come when you defeat this dreaded disease just like you beat up on major league pitching. God bless.
Gary, my thoughts and prayers are with you right now and I’m hoping that you are able to beat this awful disease. Keep up the fight.
Wishing you a full recovery.
Our prayers are with you and your family.
gary, i will never forget that morning in december 1985 that i heard on the radio that you were traded to the mets. i was driving at the time and almost ran off the road i was cheering so much, and what a great met you were. god bless.
get well kid
I hope you are feeling well Gary and your health improves.
Hey Gary, I was living in the US during your great seasons with the Mets and followed every game. You gave so much to that team and every fan wishes we could do something for you. My prayers and thoughts are with you!
Mike (UK fan).
Dear Kid, as a huge expos fan, I appreciated your talent and energy and good will so much. And the fact that you learned French. You’re a hero. best, steve
Gary, I will always remember you smiling when I think of you. You took great joy in everything you did. I saw you last year at PGA National in West Palm Beach and your ever present smile lit up the room. I want to wish you all the best and let you know you brought tremendous joy to all your fams. We are all praying for you Kid.
You were a real pain to Phillies fans back in the 80’s; however, I hope the best for you in your fight now.
Gary,
I am a brazilian fan of NYM and I wish that you will be better with your health completely good with an excellent recuperation.
Best wishes for you and your family
José Marcos Figliolini
Gary, My best and prayers to you as you move towards your complete recovery!
Gary….NY loves you. You are a total winner. My prayers are for your fast and complete recovery. I was a John Stearns fan also and know you had your disagreements with John but I suppose it is because you are two TOTAL WINNERS and both of you have zero tolerance for losing. God Bless Gary. You are number one. Please bet well quick.
We love you Gary! Keep the faith.
You refused to make the last out in game 6. I am sure you will find a way to pull through with your hands in the air once again. No one is better than you!!!!
keep the faith gary i wish you well
Keep up the fight!! God Bless you and your family. I am praying for you and I know you will give it all you got, like always!!
Mr.Carter, First of all i would like to say thank you so very much for giving me so many great memories back in the 80′. I was a season ticket holder back then and words can’t describe the thrills you and your teammates provided us fans back then! Especially Opening Day the first year you came to Flushing man it was cold that day! We left early that game around 7th inning because it was so cold and when we got home I turned on the TV and you homered to win the game! You keep fighting like you always did (game 6 in the ’86 Series vs.Red Sox big hit) you always came thru Gary and I know you will come thru this as well. Best wishes for a speedy recovery! Frank Chiappetta
A person starts dying when they stop dreaming.
You dreamed of becoming a major leaguer.
You dreamed of becoming a world champion.
You dreamed of becoming a Hall of Famer.
You dream of returning to the majors as a manager and we’re all pulling for you.
It was a special time – for the players and the fans. The excitment and fun had at Shea back in the mid ’80’s is a highpoint of my life. Gary you were such a big part of that team and my early 20’s – there will never be another ’86 Mets…..
God Bless You – and Good Luck – go get’em KID!
You are one of my favorite Mets players of all time! Thinking of you and your family. I know you can overcome this!
Gary,
I am a big fan. Thanks for all the great memories.
My prayers are with you, Keep fighting and I am sure you can beat this.
Bless you
Gary- Put your faith in the good Lord, He will bring you through! Mike
I’ll never forget when the Mets picked you up. It was one of the best moves in the history of the Mets. Best wishes…you have a lot of people praying for your recovery…I’m one of them!! Hold on and fight like the Mets did in 86′!! Those were the good old days when the Mets had pride and passion!
.
NJ Mets fan wishing you and your family all the best. Great memories of your years on the Mets. God bless you.
Gary– best wishes in beating this thing. If anyone’s got the might and merit to do it, it’s you. Just know that you’ve inspired countless people in your life and your photos and signatures adorn a lot of our offices and bedrooms including my own. One of my earliest memories was your at bat to extend Game 6. I was jumping up and down on the sofa with my brother and 8 was always my number in soccer and baseball growing up and to this day I honor you by using 8 in most of my online usernames. Looking forward to your return… I’ll be at Citi as soon as they have you back.
Dear Gary & Family:
Mets’ fan or not. Expos’ fan or not. My very best wishes in winning the biggest Series against the toughest of foes. I KNOW you can do it. You’ve done it before, and it appears that with the support you have you’ll do it again! Faith Gary! Keep the faith! You’ve got many more memories to make.
With love and compassion,
Dave
Keep up the good fight…. exactly what you told my son, 25 years ago!!! we love and pray for you everyday!
You encourage us by your fighting example
Gary, prayers and thoughts out to you and your family for your fast and complete recovery. You brought a spark to this big old city, and gave many of us happiness. Will always remember your first HR off Allen in ’85, and your triumphant raising of the fists after your game winning hit in game 5 of the ’86 playoffs. Like a kid, pure at heart.
Gary , I’m glad that I was able to watch you play the most important sport in my life . You always gave your best and it’s a shame more didn’t follow your . I pray for your complete recovery .
Gary, you gave us all thrills on the field, helped bring us a title. We are all chanting your name again looking for that one last thrill! When we hear that you beat this thing!! We are all pulling for you Kid. God Bless you and your family.
Gary, when I was a kid, you were my hero and still are. #8, the great behind the plate. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family and I hope you pull through this. Thank you for all you did for the Mets and MLB during your years as a player and coach. You are the best!
Rick Mather
The Kid had heart. Dear current Mets, get some.
The Kid had heart. Dear current Mets, please get some.
Thank you for everything you did on and off the field of baseball. As a teenager growing up on Long Island in the 80’s and watching you play for the Mets, you inspired me and made my life a lot brighter. You were the ultimate role model for a young baseball fan and a total class act. I watched and cheered for you for many years and will continue to root for you now. Good luck with your personal health battle. As Tug said….”You Gotta Believe!”
gary when i was watching u play in a montreal expos uniform and ur fomer teammate andre dawson u wer 1 of the best catcher’s 2 wear the number 8 when u came 2 the mets i was glorified and enjoyed evry met game i went 2 when i was living i queens u were an insperation in my eyes,god bless u number 8 and hope u get we’l real soon,lots of pray’s.
Keep fighting, Gary. I don’t believe in God, but I’m praying for you. Bob
Saddened me to hear the news for the first time. I idolized Gary when he was in Montreal and became a Mets fan when he signed his contract. Gary was one of those catchers that was a great all around catcher. He could call a game, take control of everyone in front of him, and hit. God bless Gary and keep the faith!
I wii always remember the way you played – just like your knickname – The Kid.. You played with a gleem in your eyes that we could see from the stands in Shea. Your winning attitude and love for the game is sorely missed in todays ballplayers. My prayers are with you in your battle. Keep smiling and know that your playing days brought much happiness to millions of fans all over the league.
My wishes and hopes out to Carter and his family stay strong like you and the 86 Mets did it and u can do it all over again.
Always a class act, both on and off the field. You are in my thoughts and prayers as you battle.
I met Kid in the Monteal Expos press box after he retired. The Expos honorred him that night, and I couldn’t wait to tell him that as a Mets fan, I wil NEVER forget the extra inniing HR he hit in his first game as a Met. His face lit up, and he said to me “Pete, I will never forget that either!” So much for no “rooting in the press box!”. Of course he also kept game 6 alive in the World Series. Piazza and Carter are the 2 best position players to even wear a Mets uniform. Some may say add a little Strawberry to the salad, be he kinda blew it didn’t he? Just like game 6 Kid, beat this.