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 Carter you were an exemplary baseball player and an outstanding human being. You gave so much to the Mets and were such a huge part of that amazing group in ’86. Thank you for that…it remains among the fondest of my memories of being a life long lover of baseball. May you rest in peace in the hands of the Lord.
My condolences to the Carter family. Gary was the most outstanding catcher ever to play. His energy and positive attitude pushed the METS to win the 1986 World Series. I have many a picture taken with Gary at SHEA Stadium, a baseball show and when he managed the St. Lucie Mets. There are numerous signed momentous my most prized one is the “Gary Carter Cabbage Patch doll.”
“THE KID” was a player who cherished the Game, his fans, his family and especially God. Retire #8 this year for the METS 50th Anniversary, although it will be celebrated alittle late for him to enjoy. His family should be honored for this!
Gary you will be missed, your smile and goodwill! KATHY B
With Gary it wasn’t for the money, it was for the love of the game and for his fans. He played with class on and off the field. The mets are home on Apr 8th they should retire his number 8. RIP Kid 😦
When I was 13 years old, I sent out letters to my four favorite players: Keith Hernandez, Dwight Gooden, Reggie Jackson, and Gary Carter. The only one of the four who sent back anything to me and it is the MOST cherished item from my childhood that I have. Gary Carter send back a 4X6 photo of himself and it read:” Jeff, God Bless, Gary Carter.” I am 38 now and I have it framed in my office. What a classy person and for someone I never met personally, I feel awful. RIP Kid and thank you for everything.
I just want to say thank you to Gary Carter for being a class act and a role model to so many people. My brother is a catcher because of gary carter and he wasnt even a thought when the 86′ WS happened. He has had an impact on todays youth and that speaks volumes about the type of man he was. So thank you again, “kid” you will be missed dearly RIP
Thank You for the memories to this life long 70 year old METS fan, you were the heart and soul of our 1986 Championship season. May you R.I.P. and my condolences to your wife and children. # 8 will live forever in METS history.. I hope the Organization retires your number and it is displayed along with the other qreat METS at Citi Field, we will never forget your magnificent smile and heart.
I will always remember the ’86 World Series as one of the happiest times of my life; Gary Carter was so much of a force for victory and an indispensable team player for the Mets. He will forever be in my heart with gratitude for his life and his play. May he rest in peace. Condolences to his family and friends.
Rest in peace, Gary. You were my favorite player and role model.
REST IN PEACE. I HAVE BEEN A PHILLIES FAN FOR 52 YEARS.
Gary Carter was not only a great ball player but a great human being. Gary always had kind words for everyone he met. You are with now with God, Gary and
He will keep showing you His peace. You will certainly be remembered. God Bless you and your family.
I was wondering the exact same thing. However, knowing the class act the Kid was, his family will probably not make his funeral a circus. I just wish his family the best and I am so glad he lived long enough to see himself get into the HOF.
i wonder if the networks will cover gary carters funeral with the same amount of coverage that they are devoting to whitney houstons funeral. r.i.p kid
Dear Gary, How blessed you are now, there is no more pain in your body, no more cancer in your brain, no more tears you need to shed. How amazing it must be now you can run and play and laugh many more times than even you thought possible! How awesome it must be now to have fellowship with your reddemer Jesus Christ whom you never were embarresed to acknowledge before men. You are in Gods hall of fame. Well done good and faithful servent, now enter into my fathers house.
If the ’86 Mets were liken to “Band of Brothers”, then Gary would be the biggest brother. God Bless.
“GOD BLESS GARY CARTER” and his wonderful family. His #8 should be retired by the METS and each MET player in 2012 should wear a small #8 on their jersey as a tribute to an excellent man, athlete and MET. RIP in your eternal home with our maker GOD and his son our savior JESUS CHRIST!!!!!!
GARY WAS SO GREAT, I SAY THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT ALLOW A SINGLE HUMAN ON EARTH 2 WEAR NUMBER 8 WHILE PLAYING BASEBALL, TO GARY’S FAMILY: WE JUST LOST A LEGEND, I AM SO UPSET AND I BELIEVE YOU WERE AMAZING WITH TRYING 2 HELP GARY GET BETTER!
i cant believe the kid is gone, who cares about babe ruth GARY CARTER, BEST BASEBALL PLAYER EVER! U WILL BE MISSED
Gary you were special in every sense of the word..I know you have your angel wings now..Thank you for that big hit in the 1986 world series..We couldn’t have won it without you..Hall of fame athlete but most of all a hall of fame person..I hope the Met’s retire your number..If anyone deserves it you do..Rest in Peace..You will be missed!!!!
I am a die hard Phillies fan, but I remember watching Gary Carter play both with Les Expos and with the Mets and could not help but root for him. So sad to see him pass away so young. RIP Gary Carter
I will always remember Carters leaping into Jesse arms just the way a Kid would do. I will take away from his short life among us, was his honesty. Not only in what he said but how he acted. you believed him when he stood on second and smacked his hands together, the joy wasn’t for himself it was for the team. The way he’d walk away from home plate after a big strike-out biting his lip shaking his head. you felt how much it ticked him off. Same as when some one crossed his plate to score he seemed to always be in front of the plate looking towards any were but home, like he didn’t want to see it. Most of all his Charity work with kids, you just knew that he cared and it made you care as well.
A truly great man, that will be missed not only from baseball but from life as well.
R.I.P. Mr. Carter (The Kid)
Going up as a Mets fan in the mid to late 80’s Gary was my favorite player and idol. I played catcher for over ten years, even though I am left-handed, because of him. My heart sunk when I heard of his passing. As a great ball player and a great man, you will always be remembered. RIP Gary
My deepest and most heartfelt condolences for the Carter family for their loss. The Mets family has lost an angel who has left nothing but great memories to all of us true 100% met fans. When i was 7 years old i watched Gary carter hit that game winning home run against the cards and i felt drawn to him, i even played catcher just because of Gary, also my number was #8 and i still wear it to this day when i play ball. You were such a positive in my life and i know we never met but you will always hold a place in my heart. You will be missed Gary.
P.S Message to the owners, retire#8 on opening day, Do the right thing.
Rest in peace Gary.You will always be a Met.I enjoyed your play and mourned whjen your time with the Mets came to an end. I know you have joined God’saseball team– hit it out of the “park”
To Gary’s family,
There are few men who played the game the way he did. He always had the same approach.He will be deeply missed but fondly remembered. God bless & Let us have a great year in memory of this outstanding human being.
To Gary Carter’s family. I share in your pain. Gary was really a good guy. You never heard a bad word about him. My hope is that he didnt suffer too long. As a true Met fan, I mourn the loss of such a classy guy. I really enjoyed the times he was a Met. I pray the family will forget the pain but remember the good things. I am sure he is in heaven with other Mets greats. Kid Carter will always be a special one. God Bless you and Gary welcome home to the baseball diamond in the sky.
Thank you Gary for the signed 5×7 you made out to me in 1985 when I was in 6th grade. I have it till this day. I will always remember the contributions my favorite Met made to his team and the world. RIP.
Thanks for the memories. we miss you.
I think Mets should retire No.8
PS I REALLY THOUGHT WOULD BE METS MANAGER AND BRING THE GLORY BACK TO METS WITH WORLD TITLE MAYBE YOU CAN MANAGE THE ALL BASEBALL PLAYERS IN HEAVEN WHAT A TEAM REST IN PEACE YOUR MY IDOL AND MY SONS IDOL
GARY CARTER PASSING HAS MADE THE WORLD DARKER PLACE HIS SMILE HIS GRACE HIS LOVE FOR EVERYONE MADE HEAVEN A BETTER PLACE MAN WHAT MANAGER HE WOULD HAVE MADE THANKS FOR STICKING TO CONVICTIONS YOUR ONE OF A KIND THER METS MUST RETIRE YOUR # 8 YOU WILL BE MISSED A LIFE TIME MET FAN I TOLD MY SON
ABOUT YOU HE HAS WATCHED GAME 6 WITH ME TODAY AND I CRIED AND SMILED HAD WARM THOUGHTS ABOUT THANKS FOR MEMORIES RIP
I was born after 86 and I never saw you play but you were one of the most recognizable and well respected baseball players to me and my family. Thank you for bringing the team I love a championship while being the class act that you were. You played the game the right way. You will continue to be a role model to up and coming major leaguers and all fans of the game. God Bless you and your family. RIP #8.
Always Remember Gary Carter and we’ll be missed. There’s no players like him today. As a baseball card collector i have his old 80’s card when he was with the Expos and Mets. Thanks for the glory day and the good memories. R.I.P.
Gary Carter was clutch! My favorite Gary remembrance is from Game 5 of the Astro’s series when he drove in Backman with the game winning run. What a great ballplayer and human being. When are the Mets going to retire #8?
In blessed repose, grant, O Lord, eternal rest to the soul of Your servant Gary, and remember him forever.
Hall of fame catcher and hall of fame person. Thank you for the memories and for being an excellent role model.
R.I.P. Gary.Thank you for making a then 12 year old boy the happiest kid in the world when you got that hit in game 6 of the World Series.Thanks for being a true hero for kids to look up to.God Bless.
Thanks for the memories R.I.P. Kid We will miss you
Our Prayers go out to the Carter Family. Thank you for touching all our hearts for being a hard working person, player and coach.
RIP…..
From a life long Mets fan, thanks for all the great memories, espeacially the ’86 Series. I will never forget the sixth game come back, that you started!
8 Always great! Thanks for all the great memories. God bless.
If a kid’s big-league dreams involve being a champion, putting up great numbers, and having fun while doing it, then Gary Carter grew up to be that Kid. His enthusiasm and exuberance made being a fan that much more enjoyable. He cheered for his guys like any fan and you wanted to be down there in the dugout giving him a high-five and slapping him on the back. Great stats, great smile, great presence- thanks Kid.
Gary Carter was a good man and a good ballplayer..at the end of the day its not about what you did but how you made your journey.
That 1986 season was nuts!!
Gary was a class act of a man who will never be forgotten. His will to win was as infectious as his smile. He was a winner in every sense of the word. God Bless him and his family. They truly lost a great human being
Have a pleasant journey to the field of dreams
He was a great player and a Class Act. He left us quite too soon. May you rest in peace, Gary.
Had the great pleasure of meeting Gary a couple of times. He is the reason I’m a Mets fan. Such a genuine guy. The world has lost a great human being. RIP Gary Carter.
Not only could children look up to you as a ballplayer…you were also a good man. Rest in peace to the man who started our comeback in ’86 and will forever be loved and respected by Met fans.
God Bless…
You were a winner in everything you did… and our thoughts and prayers go to your wife and children…. we loved watching you play;. always that wonderful smile..
and know that you are gone way too soon…. but God Speed … and know that you will be in heaven teaching the angels to play baseball….
Gary,
You were & always will be my favorite Met. The day you autographed your book, “A Dream Season”, for me was one of the most exciting days ever for me at Shea. You were a class act & you will be missed terribly. I still have my Carter shirt & will proudly wear it the next time I go to CitiField.
My prayers are with your family at this difficult time. May you rest in peace.
Gary, Your many contributions to the 1986 World Champion Mets Will Live with Us Always. The Leadership that You,Keith and Ray provided to the youngster’s on that team may go unmeasured but not unnoticed. Thanks for All of Those Great Memories.
RIP KID
Thank you Gary we will miss you. RIP
A True Class Act, and I am honored to say that I met Gary, not once but twice in 86!! He always took the time for his fans, whether it was for an autograph, or a pic, or just to shake hands and say hi !! Thanks Gary, for the advice you gave me and making this Brooklyn boy’s dreams come true!! You will forever live in my memories my friend!! Rest In Peace, and God Bless!! ….. Lets Go Mets!!!