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 were my favorite player when i was a kid and you inspired me to be a catcher. I wish you all the best, get well! If anyone can beat this it’s you!!
The 1986 Mets are one of my best memories of my younger life, and Gary Carter was right in the middle of it all. The “straw who stirred the drink.” I remember the day the Mets traded for Gary; being excited that we finally had a real catcher. And what a catcher and leader he was. Good luck and Godspeed Mr. Carter.
Kid,
You are the man. We are all praying that you beat this thing like you beat the Red Sox.
It was such a complete joy and pleasure to work with you while you were the manager of the Gulf Coast League Mets. We were so close to the championship! It was an opportunity of a lifetime for me and will always be a memory that stands out in my mind. All my well wishes your way and the best to you and your family for the holidays!
Gary and Family,
Just wanted to send my family’s best wishes to you and your family. Our thoughts and prayers are with you. You gave me so many things to cheer for and 86 seems just like yesterday, I cant believe its been over 25 years now. You and the Mets fought through some adversary and I know you have the fight in you to beat this terrible disease. Thanks for the memories and keep up the fight!
Dear Gary,
To quote Tug “You gotta Believe” , when you can to the mets Gary we all believed and 86 was the pinnacle of your time with the team even though you still had more great years with the team. Well the saying still holds true you gotta believe. Gary with gods help and everyones good prayers coming your way you can’t help but to believe, Gary thank you for all the wonderful memories & god bless you and your family. Have a wonderful holiday season
kid u was my favorite mets player 1986 before i 4 get keith was ur helper too i wish u the best and i know u r a warrior from puerto rico ur #1 fan merry x massss
Gary, I’ve written before, and now that Christmas 2011 is here and you are with us I give thanks to God and great support ongoing to you! I am a 59 yo girl still in love with my Mets and with the fondest of memories of your heroism on our behalf in ’86. You’ve left a legacy of decency and goodness for all who love this game to emulate. Keep on, and we will all keep faith with you as you do.
Julia
One of my first memories is watching the 86 series with my dad when I was 4. Baseball has been a huge part of my life ever since. Thank you for all the great memories and for being a truly great role model for all of us “80s babies.” God bless you during the holidays and in the future! You are in my prayers and I wish you well!
Kid,
We’ll never forget you. Thanks for your leadership on the 86 team and throughout your life. You are a special person and may God bless you and keep you.
Godspeed.
Gary, God bless you, All long time met fans are wissing you well, good luck my heart is with you.
Gary, I hope ypu get better soon… I am only a 12 year old boy from Montreal who is a huge Montreal Expos fan. You are definitely one of my favorite players and you are a quality guy. I hope you overcome your troubles soon.
Wish you and your family the best. You are, and will always be, a role model and an example of what hard work and a positive attitude can accomplish.
Get well soon.
Gary you are an inspiration to me and all Mets fans around the world. I will never forget how you started the rally in the 10th against Boston in the 186 World Series. you can do it again! We love you!
Wishimg you well Gary.
HANG IN THERE KID!!! KEEP THE FAITH!!!!
YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE GARY!!
I STILL REMEMBER WHEN MY SON CALLED FROM THE NEWSPAPER HE WAS WORKING FOR AND TOLD ME YOU WERE COMING TO THE METS. HOW HAPPY WE BOTH WERE. I ALSO KNOW YOU GOT THE HIT THAT STARTED THE RALLY IN THE WORLD SERIES, I WISH YOU THE BEST SO MY FAMILY CAN STILL ENJOY HAVING YOU AROUND,
We love you, Gary. You’re an inspiration. Our prayers are with you and your family.
The Weys
GC
Keep on fighting. As a boy growing up you were my favorite Met.
I wish you and your family the best. You made me love the Mets and the game.
Thank you.
LMG
Wishing nothing but the best for you and your family and a FULL recovery.
Get well soon – thanks so much for your great play between the lines – enjoyed watching you hit and catch especially for the Mets!
Stan Green
West Long Branch, NJ
Kid
Best wishes for a speedy recovery from a family of Mets Fans Circa 86. We were at a number of the final games and you certainly made it exciting. Hang in. we want to see you out there again coaching.
Stevplan
Hey Kid, my prayers go to you and family. ’86 September was my first met game. I had nice seats behind home plate at shea. and all i saw was the name Carter infront of me. Without knowing who you were. You had a great game that day. Against the Pirates. Their catcher that day was Tony Pena.
great memories.
Gary
you are someone who i will always admire
i truly pray you have a full recovery
Keep fighting “Kid” !!!
Keep fighting Kid !!!
Gary, you were my favorite among all the great players from the ’86 Mets, not so much for your baseball ability, but for the way you approached life, with so much energy and passion. Keep that energy and fight going! I am rooting for you!!!
George
get well soon the rivera family is pray for you
gary you dont know me but i met you last year on mets hall of fame day. you shook my hand and gave signed my baseball for me. May you get better and live for many years to come.
thinking of u and keeping u in my prayers.
nick a.
Hi Gary,
I hope you get better real soon. You were one of the greatest players I ever saw and one of the nicest people I’ve ever had the pleasure to watch play. So, it is with those thoughts and feelings I that I wish you courage, strength and the will to improve every day. May God’s blessings be upon you.
Mr. Carter, I wanted to send my family’s best wishes your way. Thoughts and prayers are with you. My husband just may be the biggest Mets fan of all time and has been since he was a small boy. We were newlyweds in a one room apartment we watched you and the guys in ’86. It may be the year he turned me into a baseball fan! I so loved watching you play back then!! Baseball has become a solid family tradition, now including our sons. You helped begin that…. Hang in there and best wishes for you to be well asap…
The Kearney Family, Burke, VA
Hi Gary …….From an ex-Montrealer who has a daughter with one of your autographed baseballs, good luck,God bless and may your health improve with every passing day.
Gary…. I wish you the best and pray for you. I was found to have level 4 cancer of the brain one month after you, in June 2011. So far, so good. I have been lucky so far in that my cancer stone was not causing any headaches. Of course, I would never have known if I were not talking to my brother on June 15 over the telephone. He told me my words made no sense and were coming out of my mouth out of order. He told me to go to the hospital and get a check up. By the way, he’s 63 and I am 62 years of age. I went in on the 15th of June and was told to immediately go to emergency. I was in the hospital for a week and had a “stone” larger than a golf ball removed from my brain. I now speak proper English. I go in for another doctor checkup on Tuesday of this week and hope that all goes well. I have been taking “chemo” on a scheduled basis and had radiation treatment ealier. I start more chemo on Dec 17. My main problem at this point is that my strength is much lower than it used to be. I love to record live bands here (in Vero Beach, Fl or surrounding areas) and can’t carry my gear anymore, making it a bit more complicated. I’m going to rebuild up the strength and that is my next challenge. I hope all goes well for you. Feel free to send me a message if you would like to talk.
gary, i dont even know where to start to tell you how much you are loved by met fan’s and baseball fans around the world, you are truly mr. baseball gave it your all every game, now you have to give it your all to beat this,god bless you and your family and you are in our prayer’s everynight…tommy
Get well Gary! Your in my prayers!
rogrbee
Gary u r one of the best and the best r always strong so stay strong and positive the lord is with and so r our prayers !
The Estevez Family 🙂
hey gary I’m a yankee fan but have nothing but the upmost respect and admiration for you, keep fighting bro!
From one Long Islander to another, keep the faith Gary. WE BELIEVE!!
garry get well soon our prayers are with you and your family . the molina family
get well soon uor prayers are with you and your family.the molina family
God Bless Gary. Enjoy the Holidays with your family. We all continue to pray for you.
Thanks for the memories. This was a saying from before your time with the Mets, but appropriate for you, “Ya Gotta Believe!”.
Very best wishes,
Stuart
Gary you are in my prayers every day. You are and always be the ambassedor of pure baseball. Everything you accomplished were because of hard work and the love of the game. Fight this gary for your family and fans that will always love you.
Be strong Gary. As a catcher my-self you have been my childhood hero. My family as well as Met fans around the world have you in our hearts and prayers. With out you, the ’86 Mets could never have done it. You will go down in history as one of the greatest Mets and people ever! You truly are and always will be “The Kid”.
Gary,
I can’t begin to tell you the thrills you gave me and my family throughout your career as a Met. I will pray the Rosary for you and your family in the hopes that Jesus will help you overcome this. The Ricciardi Family loves you!
I can’t even begin to tell you how much joy you have given me and my family while watching you play. Our prayers are with you and your family. WE LOVE YOU GARY!
My whole family are die hard Met fans. Thanks for all the great memories. Our good wishes are with you and your family. May you get better soon and have a very happy holiday. We are praying for you.
Rooting and praying for you. I’ve been a life long Met fan and you turned the Mets around. You can fight this. Love you.
Gary Carter all we can say is Thank You for your 150% every time you crossed the white line and handling of the pitchers, If you fight this like you have every game of your life you will win again, My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, I die hard met fan since 1968 and when 5000 showed up in the seventies. You and theguys turned it around and gave us what we waited for a long time. Gary Carter please get well soon The entire Mets family is praying for you. We LOVE YOU GARY