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, I have always been a big fan of you kid!! I know your going through a tough time but God has his plan and knowing that I know he will take care of you my friend. In 86 you guys just got in from St; Louis getting ready for the Friday night game the clincher against the Cubs. You were in the parking lot and talking about your Raiders. LOL Toughest guy in baseball a Raider fan we should have known. Well Hope your able to enjoy the Raider games. You are miss and you are loved my brother, God Bless and be strong. I know I will be at Citifield (Shea Jr.) the day your number is retired by the Mets and I know you will be there and you will look up and see the love us NY MET fans have for you!!
Just heard about your positive progress report Gary! That is AWESOME!!! Thank you for all the wonderful memories as a child and stay strong. We will be thinking about you and hoping for a speedy recovery.
Get Well!!!!!! I’m praying for you!!!!
Gary,
Just heard latest report on your progress. Keep the faith Kid keep getting better.
Randy Kirik
My curiosity for the Mets started in 1969 after they won the W.S. I was 11 yrs. old, i was playing on the sidewalk with some friends when one of them tells some guy whose jumping around and ecstatic listening to a handheld radio “what’re you so happy about?” and he says the Mets just won the W.S. and with that he keeps going down the sidewalk jumping and laughing down the sidewalk. Enter 1970 and i understood what was all the hype about. Fast forward to 1986 where you Mr. Carter took the helm and had me relive those early yrs. only this time i actually got to see the W.S. and became a lifer. Since you were there for me, as you were for all the Mets fan, now we’re here for you. I personally have the faith that you’ll get through this and i’m with you 24/7. LOVE YA.
Only recently found out about your illness. Wishing you all the best, and thank you for the great memories. My late father and I admired you both on and off the field. Keep the faith and good luck!
PS I will be attending the 25th anniversary of the ’86 World Series on October 22. It would be wonderful to see you there…Take care and stay well!
Gary, You are one of my all-time favorites and I wish you all the best….I am a cancer survivor and have you in my prayers! Continue to keep the faith and may God Bless You! I met you in Cincinnati many years ago when the Mets were playing there and you very graciously gave me an autograph….I thank you for being so kind!
Noone ever played the game with more passion than you. God bless and get well soon.
Gary, keep the faith, my prayer are with you and may our lord and savior Jesus Christ keep healing you and comforting your family.
Mr. Carter,
You have a lot fans pulling for you. Keep battling, stay strong of mind and spirit. You are not alone and you will get well…Two outs, game six of the 1986 world series…you know the rest…
From Chicago
Gary,
thanks for all the great memories. you are in my prayers and i know in my heart you will beat this!!! good luck my friend!!! and God bless you!
chris
Great prayers in the name of JESUS for healing of the cancer that has afflicted you. Victory in healing is yours from the Lord!!!
Gary, get well soon. We miss you at the ballpark.
Dear Gary,
We pray for your recovery. I have been a Mets fan since the beginning and you are and always will be my favorite Mets player. I have had the pleasure of meeting you a number of times, once in Bloomingdales N.Y. in 1990 where you were promoting cologne, another at a card signing event across from Madison Square Garden in a Hotel.. you were there along with Mex, and then at Shea for Game 5 of the 2000 World Series, behind home plate where you signed my “Carter Jersey” being worn by my daughter. Your photos and memorabilia are in my den. Thank you for all of the wonderful memories. GOD speed. We love you. David Kaufman and family.
Gary, you have always been a class act. You were one of the best on the field but more importantly you are one of the best off the field. The thoughts and prayers of my family are with you and yours.
Stay strong Kid!!
Thanks Gary You were the Best!!!! Be strong and I Pray for you everyday.
Gary,
I was there on Opening Day for your first game as a Met. I will never forget how much you did for the team and your part in the 1986 World Championship season. You were a great ballplayer and a great person as well. I wish you well and pray that God will heal you completely. God bless you, Gary
Roy McMillan
P.S. When my son, Tom, a redhead, was a toddler, I bought him a Mets outfit. Of course, it had the number 8 on it.
Gary,
Thank you for all the wonderful memories in Montreal when you were so exciting catching that second base game after game – they are all Mets fans here but they did not see you play in Montreal for all the years that you gave us and this girl who is now 67 years young remembers them all – every now and again your name comes up amongst a whole bunch of seniors reminiscing about it – and you are never forgotten – i pray and will keep on doing so as others do so that God keeps you strong and hover over you with all the love He has, Marcelle G.
Gary: Tienes que tener fe en dios porque el lo puede todo, asi que te deceo lo mejor y que dios te bendiga, tu puedes bencer al cancer;
gary, my prayers are with you and your family,keep battling kid.your the best; as a lifelong met fan;i can say it was an honor to watch you play; and a bigger honor getting to know you, god bless you kid, your pal Tony D
Gary, My thoughts and prayers are with you. I know you will beat this. I’ve been a diehard Mets fan my whole life. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York and now live in Montana and I still root for the Mets. Again, I wish you and your family the very best, as you are the best.
Debbie
. My God bless you and help you in your time of need. May he hold you up when needed. May God remove all thats needs to be removed from you. May he keep you pain free. God Bless You. Jim Colucci
Gary! I still remember the 9th inning of Game 6. I was sitting in my living room praying for a miracle. The few Met fans in the Bronx were in my apt and we were nervous that our dream was about to be shattered. When you scored on the single, your enthusiasm was felt thru my TV. The miracle came true! And I remember you being a HUGE part of it. I always think about you hoping you’re beating this disease. As the DIEHARD Met fan I am, I pray for one of the most memorable Mets I’ve ever cheered for. They don’t make them like you. Jose Reyes has your enthusiasm and it’s why he is my current favorite met. He smiles EXACTLY like you did. The love for the game all over your face. I pray you’re doing well in your recovery, Gary!
Gary
We wish you the best here from Orlando Florida. I have been a Met fan my entire life and you my friend have earned the respect and love from many fans out their. Definitely mine. Best wishes to you and your family. Pull through it senor, We are sitting on your dugout cheering you on.
Gary, I love you dearly and please know that you are in my prayers. Although, I was very young, I have watched you play for many years and loved every moment of it. You were and still will remain the best player in MLB! My all time favorite Met! Thank you for the memories!
God Bless You, Georgette from Brooklyn!
Gary,
We love you. The feeling is pure, and simple.
Stephen
Hey Gary I know you can beat this you are tough kick cancer out of the park you are 1 of my all time favorite Met Get Well Soon Kid
No Problem!!! I can lick anyones frekin’ cancer. Just leave it to me. Why didn’t anyone TELL me? This woul’ve been nipped in the bud a LONG time ago!!!
Hey Gary, i’m a long time fan of yours and had the privlege of watching you play,
i got the opportunity to see you play with the 1986 World Champion Mets, i live
out here in California and grew up playing Baseball with Keith Hernandez. I just
wanted to send you this email to let you know that my thoughts and prayers are
with you and to remind you that if anyone can beat this it is you. The very best of
luck to you and one thing that Keith’s father John always told me “Keep Smiling.”
John
Hey Kid get well, knock it out of the park
Gary, I believe you will beat the cancer so hang in there Kid.
Gary,
I know that you can beat this!!! You are Fierce, Tough and a True Warrior… .Keep the Faith and know that all Your Fans are there for you………..We need you and the Team needs you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fran
One of my All-Time favorite Mets!!!!! You can do it Kid!!!!! God bless and get well!!!!
Well KID you have and will always be one of my favorite’s.I have been a MET since there existance.But you where always very moving and I loved that about you.So now it’s another encounter fight it and be and get strong.All of my prayers are with you.S GOD bless and let’s she back out there.
Get well, Kid. You’ll beat this thing…you are a winner. Together, we will persist, and the prayers of millions will be answered. Strength to you and the rest of the Carter family. See you at Citi ASAP. -Larry E
Gary, I pray that you get better and I also pray for your family for strength & courage.
Keep the Faith.
Thanks for all the great memories you left us on the playing field. You came to my church back in the early 80’s down here in Texas and I was blessed to meet you then.
God Bless you,
Lee
Dear Gary,
Thank you for all those wonderful memories. May you and your family find comfort and strength in God. Stay strong and NEVER give up.
Beth
GARY IT IS A CRYING SHAME THAT THE WILPONS NEVER HONORED U FOR WHAT YOU DID FOR THIER FRANCHISE. YOUR FRIENDLY SMILE WAS ALLWAYS A PLEASURE TO SEE. YOU ARE A TRUE INSPERATION TO SOCIETY. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL FAMILY.ALL MET FANS WILL NEVER FORGET HOW YOU ALWAYS GAVE 1OOO% WE LOVE YOU FOREVER & A DAY.AN ADMIRER DON ARKEN
dear gary get well we all love you. the best i or any one can do is to please say one big prayer for you every day.im sure keith, mookey,ron and all the rest are waiting for you to come back and lead us one day. love again george heney from brooklyn ny
Gary,
Been a mets fan since 1985, and my little league number was 8 because you were my favorite player. After three games at catcher I knew I couldn’t play that tough position, and it gave me even greater respect for you. Keep strong and keep the faith and pull through in the end like the mets have always done. Thanks for the memories of a great childhood.
Damian
Gary:
I wish you well. You are an inspiration to all of us. Keep going strong Kid.
Thank you.
Rich
Gary, keep positive! You always were!
GARY,
THANK YOU FOR THE GREAT MEMORIES. YOUR SMILE AND YOUR LOVE
OF THE GAME. GET HEALTHY SO YOU CAN COME BACK AND MANAGE
THE TEAM. OUR PRAYERS ARE WITH YOU.
GARY G.
Praying for you!
When I was eight years old (in 1988), I wrote to you and received an autographed postcard back. It was the highlight of my young life.
You have always been my favorite Met, and I wish you and your family all the best during your battle. You are a warrior and a winner, and we can’t wait to see you in action when you triumph.
gary,
everyone is pulling for you and pray a speedy recovery for you. Stay strong, and know we are all right by your side. My thoughts and prayers are with you,
Nick.
Gary, I wish you well and you are in my daily prayers. Knowing th kind of man you are, you’ll keep fighting this thing! I know God is right by your side. I had the honor of meeting you along time ago. Peace to you and your family. Hang in their Gary!! Ed from Syracuse, New York
Gary, wishing you all the best. You’re in our prayers. Thanks for all the excitement and memories. We’re all rooting for you.
Thanks for the memory’s Kid !!
Ken G………>
Gary,
Thank you for all the wonderful memories ! Stay strong and keep the faith. You can do it kid!! I’m praying for you and wish you a speedy recovery
Gary:
You will pull through, you are a strong individual. My prays are with you. I lost mu husband to pancreatic cancer and I still cannot get over it. SO keep faith and all will be well, My prayers are with you
Lorna