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 a great man, and truly one of the greatest catchers this game has ever seen. I couldn’t imagine in a million years you not being in the Hall of Fame. We wouldn’t have a second world championship if it weren’t for you. You sparked that rally in the 10th to lead us to a victory. My mom loves you and you are her favorite baseball player of all time, and for good reason. She celebrated at a pub in NYC which she hasn’t been to since she celebrated there. We always talk about it whenever we pass it. 1986 was the only season she watched seriously and you made it magical, not only for her, but for Mets fans. Every Mets fan, all over the country. You just gotta hang in there, and as Mets legend Tug McGraw would’ve said, “You Gotta Believe.” We’ve all got your back and we are 100 percent sure that you will make a full recovery and go back to living your life as a great, amazing man who has touched Mets fans everywhere.
Thanks Gary,
Jacob, Robin, and Andy
You brought the Mets from 2nd place to the World Championship in 2 sesons and as a New York Mets fan, I will be forever grateful. I knew you weren’t going to be the third out in game 6! God bless you!
just thought you might get a laugh out of this: in ’86, my son had 5 friends over to watch. we, me included, made so much noise, next day i posted a sign on the entrance to our apt. bldg. to apologize to the other tenants! and i repeat, we’re praying for you and your family. DON’T GIVE UP! my son is still recovering from a 1988 traumatic head injury and that’s the same thing i say to him…DON’T GIVE UP! i know how hard it is to bear, but try to stay upbeat. ALL OUR PRAYERS…anne and joe
to ‘the kid’, all the comments have be made before us, so we’ll just say that our prayers are with you and your family. GOD BLESS…anne and joe
Gary,
My memories of your effort, hustle, determination and sportsmanship on & off the field, help me to teach the boys I coach how to play the game the right way. Also, I am a Mets fantasy camp Alum, and you took the time to sit down for a picture with me, as well as sign a ball and speak to me for a few moments. You are a class act that thoroughly deserves to be in the Hall of Fame of Life as well as baseball. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family, and I hope you know how many lives you have touched – God Bless You.
Dear Mr. Carter,
Growing up as an Expos fan in Canada, I always saw you as the face of the franchise. I loved the way you played the game with consistent effort and honesty. You were a great role model for a kid who idolized sports figures. I am wishing you all the best on a complete recovery and my thoughts and prayers are with you and yours.
Dear Gary,
Best wishes to you and your family. You’ll always be one of the best Mets ever and a great player and a great guy. Thanks for all you did.
Get Well, Kid
Gary, best wishes for you and your family. You have touched so many lives and I hope that the love that is being sent to you by all of these people gives you strength and hope. Get well!!!!!
-Mike B
Mr. Carter,
I am diehard Mets fan, as many people here are. I was not alive in 1986, but I consider myself a bit of an historian of the game, and you were always my favorite player not only because of your association with that team, but also because you were a catcher, which was my position growing up. You are still my favorite player to this day because you were not only an incredible athlete, and the best catcher of your era, but because you were a good person, a good man, which is something I myself aspire to be. I know this because because I met you when I was about twelve at a card show, and you not only gave me your autograph, which I treasure to this day, but you also came out of from behind the table you were sitting at and took a picture with me, which I can tell you was one of the highlights of my young life at that point. It is why it saddens me greatly to see that this disease has not let up on you. Nonetheless, I can tell you that in Boston there is a now twenty two year old man who would love nothing more than to see you get better, and although I am not religious, I hope that the baseball gods who help the Mets make their amazing comebacks have another miracle left in them for you, because you wholeheartedly deserve it.
Yours truly,
Boomer Zdrojeski
Gary, this is Larry Serrano you remember me from the good ole days of Nicholas Jr. High and our games versus each other in High School. I just wanted to say hi and and hang tough and I know you will. Tell your family hi and may God Bless You!
Your buddy..Larry Serrano
God bless you Gary! Get well soon so we can have a number 8 besides Yogi!
Dear Gary,
You were a vital part of the miracle that was Game 6 in ’86 World Series! I believe you’ve got another one left in you. My family and I pray hard for your recovery. Godspeed to you and yours.
Angel Morales and family
Best wishes for a healthy and speedy recovery.
Get better soon GARY! The Mets need to retire your number! even if you weren’t sick.
Gary – god bless you and your family – we will keep you in our prayers – Paul and Family
Thank you Gary, you are the reason I’m a Mets fan when you came from the Expos. I wish you & your family the best and thank you again for great memories.
My wife and I were there for game 6 & 7 in 86.
I always thought you were a great player but my wife is absolutely nuts about you!
We’ed be sitting at Shea, during a tense game, and all she seemed to be focused on were your thighs and buns!
And your picture (jumping up in celebration) has been hanging in her dressing area, for years.
I think I’m a little jealous!
God speed Gary Carter.Many thanks from me and a special thanks from my wife for making her a happy Mets fan!
Dan & Kim Turner
as a long time METS fan i wish u all the best Gary!! hope u get well soon!!
Hello & May God work through our prayers for Mr Gary Carter. Please Note: For Healing for Gary. & for the Carter family, & for those who can contact Gary Carter, Inform , to contact this web site. It is Bible based, for every human being. – Agape church , Wentzville Mo. 140 N. Point Prairie 63385 . Pastor ( Mel Bond ). Also found on Face Book. Direct Telephone # = 1 636 – 327 – 5632. Ask & ( you ) shall receive. seek & you will find. If we have thee faith of just a tiny mustard seed, & beleive in your Heart. It is a law of God. & will not come back void. Again that Beleived, with the D on thee end, Because by the stripes of Jesus we ( were ) healed. A done deal, as jesus said , It is finished. Now we just have to do our part, & receive, It is free.but we need to activate it. Ok I desire that Gary Carter, be whole, Now, In the name of Jesus Christ , Yes and amen.
Love in Christ . Kenny Poh.
Gary, you were always one of my favorite players when I was growing up in NY. As a Mets fan, I remember when you were first traded to the Mets. My friends and I were ecstatic! We were all saying that we were finally going to win the World Series. When the Mets won it in ’86, it was one of the happiest days of my life. I have an autographed photo of you, when you entered the HOF, that hangs in my den and I cherish it. You and I also share the same birth date. My wife of 21 years is also named Sandy and we also have two beautiful daughters. I will be praying for you and your family. God Bless. Thanks for the memories.
– Joe, Port St. Lucie, FL
Mr Carter
In a time when real role models are hard to find you are just that a real role model! I have been a fan of yours throughout your career. I respect the way you played the game and the way you lived your life off the field.If anyone cant beat this awful disease I know it is you. Wish you all the best!! Darren Hull
You were a hell of a ball player and an ambassoder to the game. I hope you get through this.
Being a Kid from Montreal I got to watch Gary play and admired his hustle and attitude. Gary you need to bring that same attitude to the fight of your life. Great person and ball player one of the greatest Expos ever. Stay strong Gary.
Never was my favorite baseball player because he was just TOO GOOD and caused my favorite team constant problems. But as a man I admire him greatly. May God help you down your path in life and always be by your side.
One of My Heroes! You Gotta Believe!
Gary, God’s speed, you were always a true professional and although I wasn’t the biggest baseball fan, I always remember you as someone who carried yourself with a touch of class and a whole load of dignity. With your ability, I wouldn’t be surprised if you were able to stop that brain tumour from stealing home !
Alan, Winnipeg
Gary, my husband and I starting dating in 1986 and we were both die hard Mets fans. My husband Danny always called you Gary C, even though everyone else called you the kid. Watching you play baseball for the mets and being an awesome catcher was so very special to us! Thank you for making such great memories for us! We wanted to wish you well and we are praying for you. We are going thru some tough times in our lives right now, but we are still thinking of you and your family. Lastly we are volunteers for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life in Nevada and we are gonna keep fighting cancer for you and all cancer patients. We love you Gary C!……Love Danny and Kathie Robbins
God bless you – I will pray for you…..from north of the 49th.
I am praying for you. You are a hero to me. May God bless you and your family.
Best wishes to you and your family.
My mom quit watching baseball when the Dodgers left Brooklyn, but I got her back by having her watch the Mets games in 85. I called her every night, from college, after every playoff an series game to discuss. She loved watching you and the guys deliver. Those were great times for me and I thank you for that. Stay strong and get better, soon.
Best wishes to you and your family. May God be with you, and heal you.
Gary,
You’ve always been one of my favorite players and the ’86 World Series team meant the owrld to me. From everything I know about about you, your enthusiasm — even under adversity — and zest for life has always inspired me. I hope you become the miracle you inspired in baseball. You’ll always be “The Kid” to me. Thank you!!!
KID- NUMBER 8 YOU WERE GREAT ! KEEP FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT!
Thankfully there is a God in heaven and you can rest in that assurance. Many great memories of you and the Mets in the mid-eighties. I wish peace for you and your family and we will all see you soon.
Gary,
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. I followed your entire carrear as a pro player and went to Duck’s games to see you. I was also a catcher on schools teams. Thinking of you, rooting for you, and praying for the best!!
Dennis Antzoulatos
My deepest prayers go to you Gary for your strength along with your family… My heart hurts so much for you…Please try to be strong all of our god wishes are with you and your family…Christine & Brad Ahlbrand
You were one of my baseball heros from that ’86 team growing up. I wish you the best in this difficult time. I will continue to pray for you….David Licul
Thanks for all the memories. Thanks for being a part of our lives.
Praying for you and your family.
With love
Josh
Gary,
My thoughts & prayers are with you & your family during this most difficult time!! I grew up watching you play for the Mets & you instantly became my favorite! You always gave your all on the field & left it all out there!! Went to a game once that you didn’t play because you were on the DL…but, I made a banner for you to get well & I got to the game early to see you take batting practice. You saw the sign & said thanks & went in the far end of the dugout…but, you walked down to my end & came back out to tell me you appreciated the support & you would be back soon! Then you let me take your picture…it meant the world to me that you took a few moments to say some kind words. You’ve always conducted yourself with class & you’ve always been a great example…and continue to do so in the face of adversity….those reasons have always made you one of my heroes!!!
May God’s love surround you & your family always!!
And Thank You for ’86!!!!
With much love & appreciation,
Kathy Stetson
May the Grace and Peace of Christ surround you and your family at this time. I enjoyed watching you as an Expo, but was envious that you went to the Mets and not my beloved Cardinals.
Gary, I hope you beat this not just because you played ball, but because the damage that cancer does to American families has gone on long enough. Thank you for what you did for the game. Being a Yanks fan I never really pulled for the Mets too much, but when you were on the field I always respected you.
Gary,
My friend and i waited for you to leave the player parking lot one night
thanks for stopping to sign, the signature may be fading, but not the memory
i remember those throws from dave parker etc
get well soon
your friend
eddie
masone
Gary, your smile whether it was on a baseball card or on TV, showed me you loved the game and being at the ballpark everyday. I read your book and one thing I remember most is you saying you ate the worlds greatest chesseburger the night you and the Mets won the World Series. You and I share the same birthday too!
Keep fighting Kid!!
Gary,
I became a Met fan at an early age, and one of my memories was the ’86 series. You were one of the players that I looked up to always. I even purchased and read your book in High School. When i heard the news of your health it hit a note. You are an inspiration to all, and always will be!
Kid,
I was an 11 year old watching the 1986 mets with my father, who lost his battle with a cancer a couple of years later. I am rooting and praying for you, and want to make sure your family savors the time with you and the memories, like the ones I have with my father, and of you. God bless.
may god be with you and your wife and kids love the rivera wil always be a fan
Gary Carter has been my favorite baseball player over the past 3 decades. My baby brother, Joe, (still a Nationals fan) dressed up in Expos gear as Gary Carter for Halloween. Joe sent Gary the picture of his Halloween outfit and Gary sent it and a picture of himself back to Joe, autographed. I was envious. When Gary was traded to the Mets, Joe cried and I was ecstatic and Joe was envious. The type of player Gary was is something to aspire to. From everything I have ever heard about “the Kid” — he has been the type of person that many look up to and love — and he is loved by many. While his baseball career is now but a portion of his life’s resume — it’s really the “what” of his life — what he did. The “who” he is, and “how” he did it (how he lived his life) are what will inspire many for many years to come. We love you Gary! Thanks!
Gary was an inspiration to me growing up in Fullerton. We were on the same Pony League all star team missing the world series by one game. We played against each other at rival high schools. It was a privilege witnessing a hall of famer destined even at this early age. My nickname for Gary would be “Mr. Encourager”. for someone so talented, he is unique by his care and compassion for others and taking them to levels far greater than could be achieved alone. Gary’s love for Christ and life testimony truly sets him apart and will be rewarded “Out of this World” fame status, far greater than any Hall of Fame here…..Tony Heller
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