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 
KID- I HAVE BEEN A MET FAN SINCE 1962. YOU WERE THE SPIRIT AND HEART OF MANY MET TEAMS. MY FRIENDS AND I WERE THERE FOR YOUR 1985 WINNING HOME RUN ON OPENING DAY, AND FROM THAT MOMENT WE KNEW WE WERE WITNESSING ANOTHER SPECIAL MET BALLPLAYER. CATCHERS HAVE THAT SOMETHING EXTRA, AN INTANGIBLE, AN EXTRA GEAR. USE THAT INNER STRENGTH IN YOUR COURAGEOUS BATTLE. BEST OF LUCK AND HEALTH FROM MILLIONS OF MET FANS. GOD BLESS YOU. CATCHER DON
KID-R.I.P.
Keep Fighting, Kid! I remember ’86 like it was yesterday!
Hey Gary. I have been praying for you and I wil continue to do so. I loved the ’86 Mets and that team is the reason I’m still a Mets fan today. I was truly saddened to hear of your health issues. Baseball needs more Gary Carters. God Bless…Jason
Dear Gary,
i was never alive to see you play, but i’ve grown up a mets fan and have seen many highlights of you, and all the glory you brought to us mets lovers. my thoughts and prayers are definitely with you and your family.
Dear Mr. Carter,
I’m a Montrealer and a huge baseball fan, and I owe most of that, if not all of it, to you. In your final season with the Expos in 1992, I was 6 years old and my grandfather took me to my first Expos game. I have to admit, I don’t remember the score, nor who you played, but I do remember one thing. At the time, I was playing ball in my local neighbourhood and I was a catcher. My grandfather knew I was playing catcher and bought me a red wrist band with your picture and “Gary Carter #8” on it. I wore the wrist band the entire game and every game I caught that season. At the end of the game, a woman sitting a few rows in front of us along the first base line saw the wrist band I was wearing as we were walking up the steps to leave. She saw the picture, asked if I liked Gary Carter and I said “he’s my favorite!”. She asked my grandfather and I to stay where we were and she would be right back. I have no idea who this woman was, but I do remember one thing: her being handed a ball by my favorite baseball player, Gary Carter. As she walked up to me and my grandfather, I couldn’t believe what she had just placed in my hand, that very same ball. To this day, that has been the defining moment of my love for baseball, as well as solidify “The Kid” as my all time favorite player. I was overjoyed wehen you got accepted to the Hall of Fame, and am glad that even though the Expos are not around, you have forever enshrined our team, our city and our fans in Cooperstown. You truly are a one of kind ball player and man. That ball sits proudly on my mantle in my apartment and I look at it every day. I would like to send you all my wishes and I hope that you and your family find strength in each other during this difficult time. The city of Montreal, baseball fans everywhere and I are behind you “Kid”. Thank you for giving me the gift of having a truly inspirational man to look up to & all the best to you in this difficult battle.
Shawn Martel
Dear Mr. Carter,
I will keep you and your family in thoughts and prayers. God bless and may you know His great Peace through the intercession of his mother, Mary.
Sincerely, Mike, Boston, MA… and someone old enough to remember your role in Game 6 against the Sox 🙂
Gary my thoughts and prayers are with you.
Gary & family,
My thoughts & prayers are with you. As a Mets fan, I have to say of all the greats you were the best.
I have plenty of great memories, but none like the 10th inning of the 6th game of the World Series when he started that rally by his base hit that lead to the Mets winning the game & then the World Series.
Hey Kid! That is what I called out to you between innings in 2006 when your St. Lucie Mets played in Viera, Fla against the Brevard County Manatees. You were so kind to take the time to neatly autograph a game ball I caught. I know you didn’t have to do that and I will always be thankful for you making me smile. The only thing we have in common, besides the love of the game, is to look through our baseball card collection. Maybe you can buzz through some cards and bring back some pleasant thoughts
I’ll call out to you again. Hey Kid! Think of hearing the roar of the crowd and the crack of the bat. Or smelling the popcorn and hotdogs. Or feeling the satisfaction of throwing a runner out at second.
We all see that grounder down the first base line and the winning run
score like it was yesterday. You are still and will always be our champion!
Keep the Faith and God Bless. Smile. We love you!
John
Knodel from the Jersey Shore.
Wishing you the best Gary! I grew up watching you play with a smile yet with toughness! A true class act and Hall of Famer! Thanks for helping make 1986 one of the best years of my life!
TAKE CARE GARY AND MAY THE ALL MIGHTY PROTECT YOU AND GIVE YOU STRENGHT AND MAY OUR HOLY MOTHER GUIDE YOU THROUGH YOUR BATTLE AS A MONTREALER AND AVID EXPOS FAN I’LL NEVER FORGET YOUR LAST HIT IN YOUR CAREER A MOMENT THAT I WAS PRIVILEDGE TO WITNESS IN 1992, THAT LONG DOUBLE AT THE BIG O AGAINST THE MARLINS BEHIND YOUR OLD TEAMATE AND FRIEND ANDRE DAWSON, ANOTHER FORMER EXPO AND ANOTHER FIGHTER WHO HAD MANY KNEE OPERATIONS AND NEVER GAVE UP…AND MOST OF ALL A NICE MAN OF FAITH…TAKE CARE KID…PREND SOIN DE TOI ET QUE DIEU T’ACCOMPAGNE DANS CETTE BATAILLE…MANY GREAT HOCKEY PLAYERS IN MONTREAL (RICHARD, BELIVEAU, LAFLEUR, ROY…) BUT ONLY 1 KID!
From the day you became a Mets player you were my favorite player!! You were my Gary Carter!! You are the Greatest Baby!! I send my love, my prayers and all my positive energy your way!! My son will be 15 years old in 2 weeks he is an Awesome baseball player!! He is a catcher, a pitcher, he can play all positions! And what a bat my boy has!! He is my Gary! He knows all about you! We are still Mets fans even with all the bashing we get!! lol I still wear your jersey proudly to all games I make!! You will foever be my Gary Carter!! I love you dearly! I wish I could have met you in person!! Take care of you!! XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Gary-I was there for the 6th game in 86 and it was an incredible thrill. I loved watching you play. There was never any question of your passion or that you always gave it everything you had. The game today is short on role models such as you. Your courage is an inspiration to us all. God bless you and your family. You are in our prayers. Bob Davis, Somers, N.Y.
Dear Gary: As a lifelong Expos fan, I followed everything about you. You were our guy in Montreal – the Kid – and we loved you then, we love you now. No one had a cooler batting stance, or that quirky habit of pulling up your sleeve. No one had a better shotgun arm to rob a would-be baserunner stealing second base. No one hit a homerun with more certainty. And no one played with more heart and more passion than you. It is really simple. When you say the Montreal Expos, you only think of two words: Gary Carter. End of story. Thank you Gary for the greatest memories this kid will ever have. We are praying for you. Fight like crazy – we are rooting for you!!! You are the greatest catcher and one of the greatest baseball players who ever lived! With much affection – Dino Mazzone, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
To the kid i hope you recover from this and see you back on the field we miss you deeply god bless you and your family.
Gary Carter. What a wonderful gift you gave the fans, hustle and cheerfulness. Today when I read the news of more cancer my first thought was to pray. May you too find your strength in prayer. The great physician is the only answer. Blessings and strength to you
To Gary and the entire Carter Family,
As a lifelong Mets fan I can think of no other Met who embodied the qualities that a true champion should have than you, Gary. Of course, I mean “champion” is all its meaning, in all its settings — on the filed and off.
You, Gary, and you family are in my thoughts and prayers.
Keep fighting, Kid!
Tim Hanley
New York City
Merci Mr. Carter.
1981. National league finals vs the Dodgers. I remember our teacher told us there’d be no class, that instead we’d be watching the afternoon game on TV. Dawson, Rogers, Wallach, etc… what a team. Thanks for the memories.
Hi Mr. Carter,
You don’t know me… but growing up the son of a single- mother, I imagined you as a male role model., I would pretend to be you during batting practice and while I would catch my team’s pitchers. I would carry around your baseball card in my back pocket. Anytime I felt pressured to get involved with the”wrong crowd”, your card was always there… reminding me of the right choices I needed to make. Now as a 44 year-old man, I just wanted to say thanks for giving me that role-model I so desperately needed. I hope you and your family find strength during your trying times. They made it official in 2003… but you have ALWAYS been on my Hall Of Fame!
Not a Mets fan or an Expos fan but a Gary Carter fan. Hang in there and I wish you the best
Once a Dodger, always a Dodger. We’re pulling for you in Los Angeles Mr. Carter. Well wishes to you. Wish I could have seen you play, can’t wait til I turn on TV one day and see you throwing out the 1st pitch for the Mets 🙂 Get well Gary Cater. Good luck
As a long-time Met fan, I will always be grateful for the Championship you helped bring to the team. As a person, I pray for your healing and that your family will remain strong during this season.
God bless you, Gary Carter.
Mr. Carter, may you feel better. I wasn’t old enough to watch you play, but I heard your determination was second to none.
we love you Gary. im praying for you and your family. God bless, J
Gary..I wish you comfort,peace..and to know how many people have you in their thoughts,and prayers.I was at Shea..many times..during your time playing there.
Thank you for everything…especially ’86!! It was a helluva season.I hope you are surrounded by warm thoughts,family,friends..and know how many people you touched in both Montreal…and New York..and baseball fans around the world.
We are all pulling for you…Be well..Take Care..God Bless you,and your family.
Many warm wishes..and Love
Don
Praying for you Gary. I always adored you. Just hope you beat this.
Gary, you started one of the greatest rallys in the history of baseball, it lead to joy for millions of people, here’s hoping you can do it one more time by fighting your way out of this, and once again bringing joy to millions of people. Thoughts and prayers with you.
Kid –
You always did it the right way, you were an inspiration to your team and your fans, and you always will be. My six year old has only seen you in old films, but he is “Gary Carter” every time he steps to the plate, and he wants to be like you when he grows up. Hang in there, and God bless.
Gary- Without knowing you personally, you have a hold of my heart. You and your family are in my prayers! May God bless you! Love, Kathy
Dear Gary,
You are an amazing man and an inspiration. You brought class and professionalism to the game like no other. As I lifelong Mets fan I can say with confidence that you were the best with your heart in every play and a smile that radiates pure joy. Sending much love and prayers your way.
Love,
Kelly S
Dear Gary,
You were an important part of my childhood. Growing up as a Mets fan, I knew who had the better catcher in town because you were always there behind the plate. You exemplified reliability, leadership and professionalism on and off the field, something I hope other ballplayers will embrace though its hard to come by. You, like Cal Ripken, Ryan Sandberg and Wade Boggs, help create this brand of baseball we now need. You’ll never be that third out! My thoughts and prayers are with you Mr. Carter.
As a Met fan, please a note to let you know how much I respected you as a player, but more so as a person who loved God and cared for others. You are indeed a fisher of men (Mark 1:14-20). Know that you helped helped reel me in to Jesus. I too have stage four cancer, diagnosed a year ago, a GIST stomach diagnosis.You have been an inspiration to me as you fight your battle with your form of the disease.
God bless you sir, along with your family.
Mark Schneider (Onalaska,Wisconsin)
Gary, I just want you to know that I have always will be a fan of yours. Every time that I have met you, you have always been very nice to me. I will never forget that. I was able to get to Cooperstown in 2003 to see you get inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. I will cherish that memory forever. My thoughts and prayers will be with you always. Take care Gary and I hope you get well soon. Get Well Kid!
I love you. Karen Lewis
You are one of the reasons why i became a Met Fan, i’ll always admire you and will be praying for you Kid.
Keep fighting Gary, you are in our thoughts and prayers.
I’m a Yankee fan but despite the crosstown rivalry, I’ve always been a huge fan of the ’86 Mets. It was a great team and you were a big part of it. I’m wishing for a full and speedy recovery for you, sir. All the best to your family. Hope to see you in Cooperstown this year!
Dear Gary:
You have always been a classily ferocious competitor. I am sure this will help in your current struggle. I remember so fondly your performance with the Mets. My sincerest hopes and prayers for your full recovery.
Jim Ryan
A man is measured in life by how many lives he has touched…Gary, you have touched many in such a positive way. God bless you. Howie & Joanne (New York)
Dear Gary, I sent you a tellegram before the 4h game in 1986. “Remember Joshua and aim for the wall. You gave me 2 home runs that night and made me feel part of the Mets great win that year. My prayers are with you. Thanks for the memories. Pat Backman (nee Daly).
Thoughts and prayers for you from Minnesota though originally from New York where I saw the Mets from day one and the greatness you brought highlighted with the 1986 WS. God bless you, Gary. Fight on.
Cher Gary,
Nous sommes bien triste d’avoir appris la mauvaise nouvelle de votre maladie et savons que votre famille vous procurera l’amour et le réconfort qui vous aideront à faire face à l’épreuve que vous vivez.
We wish you and your family the best. Your 12 years with the Expos have brought joy and genuine pride. You have been the heart and soul of “Nos Amours”. Thank you for those great summers in Montréal.
Merci Gary,
Claude Leclair et France Dodier
Sherbrooke, Québec, Canada
Gary, I remember how polite you were when we asked for an autograph when you were in spring training in St. Petersburg Florida after the Mets won the World Series. Our son was very young then and he never forgot that. We are praying for you. God is with you and he will never forsake you. Gary Linn Ocala Florida.
Thoughts and prayers for you and your family, Gary. I respect the way you carried yourself as a professional and as a man. God bless you, sir.
Hi Gary, i have always been a big fan of yours and i was so excited for you and the rest of the New York Mets when you won the 1986 World Series i watched every game of that series as i did the NLCS against those Houston Astros what a unbelieveable year that was you could’nt have asked for anything better those 2 series kept you on the edge of your seats every minuate of every game. Im from California and grew up playing baseball with a teamate of yours name Keith Hernandez and i was so happy for him when you guys won it all that year it was
a battle every step of the way and just like the battle you have now i know that you will come out of this on top just like you did in 1986. My prayers and thoughts are with you always.
God Bless you Gary
your friend John
I am a 41 year old Yankees fan. I admired the way you played and always wished you were a Yankee instead of a Met 🙂 You are a role model for how a man should be, not just how an athlete should carry himself. God bless you Mr. Carter.
I have been a fan of the Mets since I was a little girl. Living and working in the Bronx this is not easiest thing but I don’t care. I even saw the winning game of the 1986 World Series. Gary Carter has always been my favorite player. When I played softball I played catcher and always wore the number 8. My car even has Mets plates with my name and the number 8. I have an orginal Mets poster with Gary Carter for the subway station signs from 1987. I was also at the game when you were inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame at Shea. I have yet to see a catcher for the Mets that could fill your shoes. I was devestated when I heard about your illness. I hope and pray you recover.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Don & Jessica
Gary when you were with the Expos you made every game against my home-town Pirates slug-fest… always been a fan … God Bless you and wish you nothing but the best!
Hoping for a speedy recovery. Our hopes, prayers and love are with you and your family Gary. Early in your baseball career I went to see you play agaisnt the not so good Mets. Shea did not even open the Upper tier in those days because there were not enough fans to fill the seats. It was a thrill to see you.
Later Met’s fans dreams came true when a trade was made to bring you to New York. Who can forget when you had the winning home run in your first came and Ralph Kinener brought you on Kinener’s corner and call you Gary Cooper instead of Gary Carter!! The 1986 year….game 6….and you were not going to be the one to make the last out! You brought world championship back to New York.
My family wishes you a speedy recovery.
I’ve been your #1 fan since i was a little boy. To me, you were the Expos. I’m really out of words, so i’ll just say that i’m sending you all the love and positive energy so that you can win this fight.
I’ll never forget the day when you signed my “I LOVE GARY CARTER” poster and mailed it back to me, as a little girl this was the most exciting thing to ever happen to me. From that day on you always held a special place in my heart. Years later I had taken my husband to Mets Spring Training when you were a coach for the minor league Mets and I was lucky enough to meet you in person…it was such an amazing moment for me & I told you that I was pregnant and if we had a boy we would be naming him after you. Well 6 months later jack CARTER montalvo was born. I was able to get a letter to you with pictures from when we met as well as pictures of jack carter….& to my surprise a month later we received in the mail a beautiful hand written letter YOU wrote to my newborn son along with your HOF photos. Now jack is 8 years old and is the catcher on his baseball team. He carries the Carter name well and I know you would be proud. Thank you for being such a positive & inspirational influence in our lives. We adore you. God Bless you and your family. Isaiah 40:31
With Love, Kristin Montalvo