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 
You have many who just want to say thank you for the good times! And we are here for you now,as you were there for us.
Pulling for you! Kid. Thoughts going out to you and your family
Gary, I remember the 86 World Series like it was yesterday. You were such a wonderful catcher and team player and I was at a book signing of yours on Long Island when you had to leave as it got late and you told everyone to bring their books to Shea and you would sign them. Well we went that Saturday and someone got you and we met you and you signed our books personally just as you promised. I still have that book with all my Mets memorabilia. You were and are full of class and gave us the most exciting moments when you played as a Met. May God bless you and your family and I know you will beat this. Thanks for the memories at Shea. They will forever be with us.
Gary, Good Luck to you, wishing you a complete recovery. I was there on that cold opening day in 1985, right behind home plate in the back of the loge for your home run to win it. Right then, I knew it was the beginning of a magical, great time for my Mets. I talked with you briefly about that day down in PSL by the player’s parking lot a few years back. You were the final piece to the great 80’s teams that won it all in 1986. You also always carried yourself with class and dignity and showed great passion for the game and for life. Best of luck to you Kid, my thoughts and prayers are with you!
Gary- you touched more lives than you will ever know. We love you and want you to get well soon.
Best wishes to Gary. The real 1986 MVP of the Mets.
God Bless.
Get well Gary. It was a pleasure watching you play for the Mets. I was fortunate to be at your first game in a Met uniform on opening day when you hit a walk-off homer. It was one of the most exciting sporting events I have ever attended. I was also privileged to be at the 7th game of the 1986 World Series. Have so many great memories of Gary Carter in a New York Mets uniform. You gave Met fans a lot to cheer about and all of us are pulling for you now. May God’s blessing be with you and your family.
Get well soon Gary
I was born in ’86, so I can’t say I know what it’s like to watch you play (aside from watching episodes of “Mets Yearbook” during rain delays), but you’re a favorite amongst my family members. During the ’86 reunion ceremonies at Shea in ’06, you shook my hand and I have a picture of it. I’ll never forget that moment and the warm smile you flashed. I was hoping you’d be the manager of the Mets this year, but that obviously didn’t work out. Good luck and hopefully the Mets will retire your number soon! It’s well-deserved. I hope to see that trademark mischievous smile of yours around Citi Field again soon. You are very loved and will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Get well Gary. You are a fighter and this is just another of life’s obstacles. Beat this, Kid. Prays for you and your family.
Gary,
You gave us all so many great memories. Hope you can now take strength from knowing all the people whose lives you have touched are thinking of you and praying for you. Do your best; you always have.
Get well, Kid. Been on your side since you hit that game winner in Game 1 of your Met career in ’85. Keep fighting.
Please get well soon Gary. This is a disease you CAN beat. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Gary, may u be blessed with a speedy recovery and I remember watching u all those years ago and admiring your perseverance throughout your entire career.
Gary, you have always been my favorite Met. Thinking of you and wishing you and your family all the best.
Gary im almost in tears, your in my prays. Your a NYM legend and will be one the greats in new york history.
Hang in there, Kid! Remember.. YA GOTTA BELIEVE! Get well soon.
get well gary. kick this tumors behind and show them nothing keeps the kid down.
We’re pulling for you and praying for you to get through this!
gary,may god bless you and your family.you’ll always be “kid” to us met fans.thank you for all the great times you gave us. god bless
Ger well “KID” god bless
Get well soon Gary! We’re all pulling for you!
We are cheering for you as we have always done. You probably remember us as Frank’s kids. the guy who ran the player back and forth to the airport. Frank passed away 4 years ago. So you have your own guardian Mets angel watching over you just as he did in PSL. Joanie is in Royal Palm with us & and we are all praying for your speedy recovery. The Kid always Wins. You never let us down, and we will always be there for you!!
You were a Hall of Fame catcher, and are a Hall of Fame man. You can get through this and when you do come to Citi Field so Mets fans can cheer like it’s 1986.
Get well soon, Gary.
Gary, you are part of my family. My brothers and I grew up at Shea. The team you lead was one of our finest moments.
God Bless You and God be with you while you beat this nasty cancer.
We are all there with you. You are in our prayers and we know because of your loving family and your inner strength you will be here with us for many, many years to come.
We will, we will rock you!
Gary, The city of New York is with you, The Big Apple will send our prayers and love to you and your family, WE WILL GET THRU THIS, GARY THE KID CARTER, WE WILL ALL RALLY TOGETHER AND GO FOR THE WIN………..
Gary;
You were the consummate professional who brought a much needed element of class and integrity to the Mets franchise … Jerry Grote was a scrappy gamer who knew how to handle pitchers.. Mike Piazza had more power.. But no catcher in Mets history had all the tools like you did … Hit, hit for power, throw out runners, handle pitchers, and offer more of a positive influence in the club house .. You are a champion in every sense of the word .. May God hold and mentor you through this difficult time and bring to fruition the rewards bestowed to the select few such as yourself who have given unselfishly in the name of all that is good in life .. You are facing down the toughest of all adversaries.. Two down, bottom of the ninth, with an 0-2 count.. My money is on you to make something magical happen..
Gary,
Prayers sent up for you. May you get well and I look forward to the day that I will see your big smile in the TV booth of a Mets telecast.
I’m a mets fan because of #8. You remind me of why I love baseball Gary and I’ll always remember your smile on base after a hit. Years later I read that Jesus told His followers to be the salt and light of the earth and I didn’t know how to do that. But you do, Gary, you make millions of total strangers know God is good just by being yourself. I pray you are healed completely and I’m grateful for your example to this young boy so long ago.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family as you make this difficult journey. If anybody can beat this, you can!
God bless you and be strong and get well.
❤ : )
rooting as hard for you as I do for the ball club
Gary, you were always a class act from the very first day, and to this day you still remain a class act. May God bless you with strength and courage in these trying times. I know in my heart that you can beat this, if anyone can, it’s you Kid. Please get well, and know that I and so many others, have you and your family in our hearts and in our prayers.
Get well soon Gary! I wish I could’ve seen you play back in the 80s.
Kid, you taught me about believing, you’re in the game six of your life….lead the charge!!!
Hey Kid, 1986 was an awesome year for you and the mets, my favorite team thru ups and down but as a mets fan we wait and we win, so I know that you are going to win again, just hang in there win one more for us and yourself.. LETS GO KID. My prayers are with you and your family…
Dear Mr. Carter, I am not a baseball fan, but I do remember you when you visited my brother Jon Michael in Sloan Kettering Hospital in NYC. He had cancer. You were so nice to him and my family, and all the other kids in the ward. My brother has since passed, but on behalf of my family, and all the other families you were so nice to, Get well. The world needs more people like you. You are in our thoughts and prayers. God bless and thank you again.
Wishing you and your family all the best, Kid. Your passion and play were great for a little boy like me in the mid-80s to emulate. Keep fighting…you wouldn’t make the last out in Game 6…and we all know you won’t do it this time either!
Mr. Carter, You are in my familiy’s prayers. We wish you the best. Thank you for all the great memories. You were, and will always be one of our favorite Mets. You signed a ball for me at Shea Stadium in 1987, I was 13 Years old. I still ahve that ball in my man cave. Get well, and God bless. If any one can beat this, you can. Love Ya “Kid”.
Good Luck Man
Kid, Wishing you a Speedy recovery
Time to repay you Gary for all those wonderful years when you graced that #8 Mets uniform. I will pray for you everyday that God heals you. God bless you and your family.
Best of luck you were always my hero growing up and I have no doubt that you pull this one out
Gary, May God bless you and give you comfort during these trying times. May he give you the strenght for a speedy and full recovery. From a life long Pennslyvania Mets Fan.
True meaning of the word “warrior”. Thoughts and prayers “kid”
Get Well Soon!! Our prayers are with you.
2012 WS – For Gary.
Gary,
You are my all time favorite Met. As a neuroradiologist, I understand better than most what you are facing right now. And as a fellow Christian, I pray that God through the Lord Jesus Christ grants you the peace that surpasses all understanding, and that you are comforted daily by His Holy Spirit. — 2 Cor 12:10 —
— Thomas
Gary –
Time for me to return a favor you never knewyou made.
When you were leading the Mets all those years ago, I was your second biggest fan in South Jersey. My mom was #1. In 1984 she was diagnosed with breast cancer and not given much hope, six months to be exact. One of the few bright spots for her was to sit with me and watch you play on WWOR. In fact, I used to copy your batting stance (shirt scrunched on the shoulders) and my mom would throw wiffle balls to me, when she could stand.
She always promised me that someday I would get to see you play in person and that I would go to Shea. Lord knows I wanted to occupy that spot behind home plate the same way you did. I was a catcher every year I played baseball and wore number 8. She told me that she hoped she lived long enough to go with me.
Through all the chemo, the hair loss, the “sickness” and other trials, we always would sit down and watch Mets game together. She would tell me to wake her up when it was your turn to bat becuase she knew I would mimick your every move. You meant the world to me, and through that, you meant the world to her.
As I have aged I recall those moments fondly. Have continued to be a fan of your work be it through your charity, your autobiography or other endeavors. Even have Mets season tickets and tell my daughters about you. Reminds me of my childhood every time and makes me smile.
Long story short. I was disappointed to hear your news. Hit me almost as much as when my mom got sick. I know these are trying times where your faith will be tested. When times get tough, scary or uncertain, please feel free to reach out to the Sangillo family. My mom would love to talk to you (still kicking after all these years).
Get Well Gary, Met you with my son when you coached the Ducks, God Bless!!!!