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 
My condolences to the Carter family. God Bless you Gary.
So sad to hear of Gary’s passing. My sympathies to his family. He will always be one of my all time favorite players. He was such a big reason for the Mets 1986 World Championship. He will be missed.
Rest in Peace Gary
This is a sad day. I remember Gary Carter coming to the Mets back in the 80’s and made watching them fun again. I have so many great memories of him during his years with the team and I don’t even know where to start. My condolences to his family and friends. Rest in peace Gary.
My deepest sympathies to the Carter Family,on the loss of your husband,father,and friend.I just heard of your loss.I watched Gary & the Mets play quite a bit in the mid 80’s…lots of time at Shea…I thought Gary Carter,& Keith Hernandez were the two biggest acquisitions the Mets made in that time.I’ll never forget that ’86 season..you couldn’t keep the Mets down…they always fought back.There are some battles we are Not meant to win.We cant comprehend or understand why…but ..trust in a force larger than we can understand..that our days are numbered as soon as we enter this life..Gary Carter…played his ballgames& battles with his health.relentlessly .all his days..The Carter family should be SO proud of him…in my heart..the Gary Carter I remember..will always be the one I watched at Shea Stadium ..those days in the early-mid 80’s…No one can take those memories from me…as No one can take Gary Carter from the hearts& memories of his family…I wish you all the best..& Thank you..& Gary for all he did..for baseball,the NY Mets..& Me… Thank You Kid..I wish you Peace…Rest Well..God Bless you& your Family…Thank You…Thank You..
I had the pleasure of working with Gary on several projects back in 1987, including the Mets Wives Fashion show to benefit one of Gary’s favorite charities, the Leukemia Society. He was an amazing man, on and off the field — so exuberant and kind — he always put 110% of himself into everything he did. Not only Major League Baseball, but indeed the world has lost one of its best and brightest. Our hearts go out to his loving family. May he rest in peace and know that we will always remember with great fondness his smiling face, his zest for life and the joy he brought to so many.
My condolences go out to Gary Carter “The Kid’s” family. May The Kid rest in peace. He was such a great player whether he played with the Mets, Expos, Giants, Dodgers he will always be remembered as “The Kid.” He shall never be forgotten and will always be with the Mets and Expos fellow teammates.
Today the world will be minus one in terms of classiness! Watching you as a kid made me truly enjoy baseball because you made the game enjoyable, especially when you and your New York Mets team-mates took the field. Once on the field you had your game face on and it was all business! Off the field, you had an infectious smile and very classy demeanor. My deepest condolences to your family, may you RIP Mr. Carter, you were truly one of the greats of the game!
God Bless you Gary and keep smiling. RIP
May God bless keep you, Gary. you will be missed, terribly.
mets fan forever and u were my favorite remember playing catch by myself and make believe i was u.it was great then to be a mets fan not like now.i wanted to be a catcher like u, even though i sucked at it.but the thing i remember most is ur unselfishness. when u got excepted to the hof and u wanted to go in as a met, but mlb ask u to go in as an expo no argumeant from u.just cant believe someone would do that especially for a franchise that didnt excist anymore.praise to the great kid gary carter, the man the current mlb players and future players and even retired players should try to be like much luv gary thanks for the memorys. and thank to the carter family for letting the legend enertaining millions by playing a game of baseball much luv gary carter, see u soon
God bless you Gary Carter. You’ve made Met fans happy and remind us of the true joy in baseball and life.
Gary,
Merci pour tout. God Bless.
Claude (Montreal Québec)
Not only am I a Life long Gary Carter Fan. But I also had the honor of meeting & talking to him several times since 1986. The most recent was July 2007, when my then 10 year old son was being taught how to be a catcher, by the One & Only Gary Carter. It was at “Carter Camp” a 2 day baseball camp sponsored by the Long Island Ducks (Where Gary was the Manager). I sgtood there in awe and have Many Pictures of My son, myself & Gary that day…He was such a gentleman and after the camp ended for the day he made sure to sit with each kis, take pics & give autographs…He spoke with everyone..It was a truly awesome experience that not every little boy will get..I am so grateful that my son had the opportunity.
Rest In Peace, Gary…You were an incredible person on & off the field. Baseball lost one of its greats today. My Prayers are with Sandy & their Children & Grandchildren.
I will never forget himand Neither will my son.
Michelle- Long Island, NY
rest in peace gary.thank you eric.
Keep Smiling, Gary! You were a class act who will always be remembered as one of the greatest Catchers of all-time. Always Proud to call myself a Met fan with players like you in the Mets Hall of Fame. Modern professional athletes could learn a lot emulating you!
Always A Professional, Always Smiling, Great BallPlayer, Teammate and Human Being !
Gary was my all time favorite player! I was very proud to be able to go to his Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Years later, I sat next to Gary on a flight from NY back to Florida, WOW, what a moment! We talked for 3 straight hours!! Everything from baseball, football, family, and kids. Gary even took the time to write my son a letter giving him encouragement as to being a “left handed” catcher! He fought a great battle this past year. He will be extremely missed. RIP Kid!!!!!!
R.I.P Gary Carter. Thank you for 1986. Thanks for all the memories. Your will be forever in the hearts of Met fans.
Gary Carter will be remembered as a likeable and respected Hall of Fame baseball player and his contributions to the many charities he helped during his life. He will be missed.
I was a teenager when the Mets won it all in 86. I’m 40 now and like many people my age, I often look back on my younger days with a longing for those same feelings of excitement and innocence. Many men much smarter than me have written about the meaning of life and our purpose on this earth. I tend to believe that one of our purposes is to leave a mark. To make a difference. To give others joy and happiness. Gary did just that and his passing reminds us all that baseball truly is a Kid’s game. Rest in peace, Gary. And thank you for the joy you brought to so many lives.
Gary Carter will be missed and remembered forever!!!! He was one of the AWESOME catchers in the history of the game!!!! RIP “The Kid!”
RIP kid. You were my idol growing up. We shared a name n the #8. You’ll be missed dearly
Dark, dark day for the Orange and Blue Nation as well as all of baseball. This coming season every catcher in the major leagues should bear the number 8 somewhere on their uniform in honor of the legendary Kid. Arguably one of the very greatest catchers in baseball history and the best all-around catcher in Mets history, a far better hitter than Grote and a better gloveman than Piazza (All due respect to those Players). Most of all, Kid was a great human being and a class act, I don’t recall ever hearing any bad press about him. He left us way too soon, but at least his suffering is now over and he is at peace. Rest easy Mr. Kid Carter, we will always love you. Amen.
WE JUST LOST…A …LEGEND!
R–I—P—- KID
THE BARONGI FAMILY
I remember one day at sping training,my father ask Gary for an autograph and he was just finishing up batting practice; he asked if he could sign tomorrow but my dad said that we had to go back to Montreal the day after. So Gary turned around and came to see us and signed the picture, wishing us a safe trip and saying “see you at the Olympic stadium!” That’s the kind of man he was… Good-Bye Gary
During game 4 of the 1986 World Series I was standing in a small parking lot behind the Green Monster when a baseball came rolling to my feet. It turned out it was Gary Carter’s second home run ball. In 1994, I called his office and left him a voice mail asking if he would sign the ball if I sent it to him. The next day he called me back and left a message saying yes!! I sent the ball to him and let him know I thought Al Nipper had thrown the pitch. He sent the ball back and wrote on it, “off Steve Crawford, 2nd home run, Fenway Park.” What a generous and great guy. Baseball and the world have lost a shining star.
The Mets are my family and a member was lost today. Goodbye Kid. You left quite a legacy and many Met memories! A tremendous person was lost today. Gary Carter was a professional and real man!
God speed be with Gary. I will always remeber you as a EXpo you and Tim Wallick. You were two of the best along with your teamate tim Raines. I glad you got some post season games in with the Mets. I was glad you got to play for our Dodgers at the end or your career. Only Johnn Bench and Ray Fosse were better than you at the time.
My condolences to Gary’s friends and family. I had the honor of meeting him…and besides sharing his last name, he indulged my babbling like a 5-year-old….and I was about 26 at the time. I’ll never forget how nice and cool he was.
Rest in Peace Mr. Carter, #8! It was because of you that I became a Mets fan in 1986! You’er an AMAZING example to human beings.
“The Kid” will always be a Met in my heart. Carter, along with Keith Hernandez, brought class to a franchise that was in short supply of it at that time. Thanks for everything, Gary.
I remember watching the World Series game when the Mets won. It was so exciting! I have been a die hard Mets fan ever since. Gary Carter was a player with alot of heart and he will be missed! R.I.P #8.
THANK YOU FOR MAKING 1986 A AWESOME FRESHMAN YEAR AT COLLEGE FOR ME. I’M SURE THAT NIGHT FADES IN COMPARISON TO WHAT IT FEELS LIKE TO STAND IN AWE AT THE THRONE OF JESUS TONIGHT-OUR HEARTS ARE SADDENED BUT WE KNOW YOU ARE SAFE IN YOUR HEAVENLY HOME TONIGHT. THANK YOU GOD FOR SHARING YOUR CHILD GARY WITH US!!!!
I KNOW HE IS SMILING FROM EAR TO EAR AND IS YOUNG AND VIBRANT AGAIN IN YOUR PRESENCE. HIS BODY IS HEALED AND HE’S PLAYING BASEBALL AGAIN.
Thank you Gary for providing my childhood with the greatest of memories. You played the game the right way and, more importantly, you were a great human being. God Bless.
The “kid” was my first baseball hero growing up as a lifelong Expos fan in Ontario. I will always remember the heartbreak I felt when the Expos let him go the hated “Mets” but also the joy I felt for him when he triggered that unforgettable Mets comeback in the 1986 World Series. He was a great ambassador for the game, a class act, and there will never be another like him. He kindled my love for baseball, and baseball could use more hero’s like him. Rest in Peace “Kid”. M Wilkie
First my heartfelt condolences to the Carter family. I will always have game 6, two outs and the kid starting it all, I still have my ticket stub. later on living on Long Island had many chnaces to meet and speak with Gary while he managed the Ducks, my autographed ball will always be a special keepsake for me. RIP Gary.
A great field general and the glue that held his teams together. He’ll be missed by more than his generation of fans.
I’m from Quebec, as a kid my favorite player was Gary Carter. He was so cool with the fan. Always there to sign autographs and chat with the Montreal press and fans. Thanks Gary for the memories.
I covered the San Francisco Giants for the San Jose Mercury News from 1990-91 and Gary was a pleasure to be around the clubhouse and cage in those days, and a shining star as a person over the years. I remember they used to playfully call him “Lights” then because he was not bashful around media. But I saw it simply as a person who was forever accommodating to me and just a good guy to be around. I will really miss him and my thoughts are with his wonderful family who has been so strong. We lost a great one today. He was the definition of All-Star — always in that game!
The Kid Grew up
Gary Carter was much under appriciated it seems by some of his Expo and Met teammates ,I guess for his enthusiasm,his strength in his beliefs and doing what was right, and his great fan appriciation. He led in New York by example. God Bless him!
This is truly a sad day. Mr. Carter, you we’re my inspiration to play baseball when i was a kid. I followed your career from the beginning. You were a class act on and off the field. I thank God that I was able to meet you at a signing and chat for a short while. You will always be “The Kid” to us die hard Mets fans that love you. R.I.P Mr. Carter.
Sad day in Met land. Players today could learn a lot on how to play the game the right way from Gary Carter. He will be missed. RIP Kid!
Gary Carter was one of the greatest players for the NYMets. He was a gentleman and a scholar. Loved him.
Garter Carter , true professional a ballplayer, who gave it all every bat every sign to the pitcher who played his heart for all great fans of New York . I never forget you Gary the greatest catcher of 80s and through all this never gave up till end. Gary family my condolences and prayers are with you . I never forget the day in 1984 when the mets got Gary Carter and the hit in world series helping the mets to win the world series .
Good-Bye My Friend.. You have always been my friend from a distance.. God Bless you on your journey and may he grant you a peaceful home.
Gary Carter will always be defined as a hard-nosed player who gave it all
162 per cent. For one who met him in Pittsburgh, he was the type that
if you asked him for an autograph;he oblige. God rest your soul
always Gary Carter, You will never be forgotten.
Oh no….Not yet,,,,please God not yet……Millions of N.Easterner’s are morning Gary, “the kid’, Carter.
I was a teenager watching a oh so young Gary conduct himself Respectfully, in a Mature Professional manner on the field with a happy smiling grin. You could only love Gary carter the player for those qualities.
I’m sure he was welcomed into heaven by God’s open arms saying,
“Well done my good and faithful servant, you are home now”
As I shed a few tears for Gary loosing his battle to that terrible disease and for his loving family that is undoubtedly devastated by Gary’s death.
My God ease the pain of Gary’s wife, children, friends and to us, the MILLIONS of GARY “THE KID” CARTER fans..
You are free now Gary.
May God bless and ease Gary’s families pain..
I’m a die-hard Mets fan who is only 22 years old. My only disappointment is for me to not have personally witnessed his talents taking the field/stepping up to the plate. I know from the bottom of my heart that he has one of the most respected human beings in sports, not just baseball. Despite those, I guess you can call me “kid” too, because I’m crying like one now, mourning his loss. RIP #8
I grew up a kid of the 80’s on Long Island, and I became a lifelong Mets fan watching Gary, Keith, HoJo, Daryl, Doc, Ron and the rest on those great 80’s teams. I usually don’t get emotional when a celebrity or athlete passes, but those guys and that team became a part of us growing up here, and I will always have a place in my heart for them. We will miss you Kid. I hope the games up there are as good as they were down here.
Growing up in the 80’s never got to see him in his Montreal days, but got to see him play many times during his NYM stint. Will be missed and one of the best catcher i have ever seen play the game. RIP Kid!