Results 1 to 13 of 13

Thread: Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter dead at 57

  1. #1
    Atomic Punk of Los Santos
    Full Member Status

    fryingdutchman's Avatar
    Member No
    11316
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Last Online
    01-28-2017 @ 09:31 PM
    Location
    The Original Capital
    Age
    54
    Posts
    4,132
    Status
    Offline
    Thanks
    318
    Thanked 737 Times in 473 Posts


    Rep Power
    32

    Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter dead at 57

    I can't believe this hasn't been posted already, but here it is.

    I loved Gary Carter when I was a kid. He was the model of the hard-working, yet fun-loving, baseball player.

    R.I.P. Mr. Carter.


    Gary Carter, the Hall of Fame catcher who helped lead the Mets to the world championship in 1986, died Thursday after a 10-month battle with brain cancer. He was 57. Kimmy Bloemers announced her father's passing on the family's website.

    "The baseball world lost one of its gladiators today, and I have lost a friend,'' said former pitcher Ron Darling, Carter's teammate on the '86 Mets, in a statement issued by SNY. "Gary Carter was everything you wanted in a sports hero: a great talent, a great competitor, a great family man and a great friend. To know Gary was to care deeply for him, and I am deeply saddened . . . ''

    Former Met Wally Backman said of Carter, "He was like a big brother to me. I always went to him for advice. No matter what time of day it was, he always had time for you.''

    Carter was last seen in public on the evening of Feb. 1 in Jupiter, Fla., at the season opener of the Palm Beach Atlantic University baseball team he coached the previous two seasons. Carter, seated in the back of a golf cart, greeted his former players and urged them to "get a win,'' which they did over Lynn University. He stayed for three innings before returning home.

    Carter, who was diagnosed with grade 4 glioblastoma last May, made an appearance at his charity golf tournament Jan. 15 in West Palm Beach, Fla. Carter knew what he was facing.

    "I talked to him in October,'' former Met Bud Harrelson said recently. "He talked about extending this -- he didn't think he would beat it.''

    "On behalf of everyone at the Mets, we extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to Gary's wife, Sandy, daughters Christy and Kimmy and son D.J,'' Mets chairman and CEO Fred Wilpon, president Saul Katz and COO Jeff Wilpon said in a statement.

    "His nickname 'The Kid' captured how Gary approached life. He did everything with enthusiasm and gusto on and off the field. His smile was infectious. He guided our young pitching staff to the World Series title in 1986 and he devoted an equal amount of time and energy raising awareness for a multitude of charities and community causes. He was a Hall of Famer in everything he did.''

    Commissioner Bud Selig also released a statement: "Driven by a remarkable enthusiasm for the game, Gary Carter became one of the elite catchers of all time. Like all baseball fans, I will always remember his leadership for the '86 Mets and his pivotal role in one of the greatest World Series ever played.''

    Carter's former teammates spoke of his impact.

    "What he added to the team was character,'' Darryl Strawberry said. "His approach to the game was contagious. He helped each of us understand what it took to win.''

    Dwight Gooden added, "I relied on Gary for everything when I was on the mound, including location, what pitch to throw and when. Even when I didn't have my best stuff, he found a way to get me through the game. He was just a warrior on the field.''

    Former Mets manager Davey Johnson called Carter "a one- man scouting system. What people didn't know was that he kept an individual book on every batter in the National League.''

    A spokesman for SNY said Keith Hernandez "was really shaken up from the news and wanted some time to gather his thoughts'' before commenting.

    Carter was born April 8, 1954, in Culver City, Calif. After the Expos drafted him in the third round in 1972 as a shortstop, he played for them from 1974-84. The Mets acquired him from the Expos Dec. 10, 1984.

    "The genesis of the trade was that we wanted to add a big bat to the lineup,'' former general manager Frank Cashen said. "He did that right away.''

    Showing an immediate flair for the big stage, Carter shined in 1985, slugging a career-high 32 home runs. On Opening Day, his walk-off homer in the 10th inning against the Cardinals inspired chants of "Ga-ry! Ga-ry!''

    In 1986, he had one of the best seasons of his 19-year career, with 24 homers and 105 RBIs, and finished third in the balloting for National League Most Valuable Player. During the World Series he batted .276 (8-for-29) with nine RBIs, including two homers in Game 4 at Fenway Park. Carter singled to start the two-out rally in the 10th inning of the memorable Game 6.

    The three-time Gold Glove winner was an 11-time All-Star and a two-time MVP of the game. He's the only player to homer twice in an All-Star Game (1981) and a World Series game.

    The 6-2, 205-pounder was among the best run-producing catchers of his generation, hitting 298 of his 324 home runs at the position, seventh-most for a catcher. He was second to the Phillies' Mike Schmidt for MVP in 1980.

    It was Expos teammate Ken Singleton who noticed the boundless energy of the youthful Carter in spring training of 1974. Singleton and infielder Tim Foli coined the nickname "Kid'' that would stay with Carter for the rest of his career.

    Singleton, a Yankees broadcaster, said of Carter, "He had this unbridled enthusiasm for the game of baseball. When somebody breaks in, you don't know how good a ballplayer they are going to become. He had some talent. Kid Carter sounded good; it just stuck.''

    Carter was an unabashed cheerleader, which sometimes drew digs from teammates. "He chatted a lot, that was his nature,'' said Harrelson, a coach on the 1986 Mets. "Gary really worked hard, got there early. He wanted to catch every single inning of every single game.''

    Despite nine knee operations, he holds the record for putouts by a catcher and the NL mark for games caught.

    The Mets released Carter after the 1989 season, and after splitting the next two years between the Giants and Dodgers, Carter returned to Montreal in 1992 to finish his career.

    He tried his hand at minor-league managing, including a stint in 2009 with the Long Island Ducks, who are co-owned by Harrelson. Carter's one frustration, Harrelson believed, was not getting the chance to be a big-league manager. "I think he really wanted it, maybe too much,'' Harrelson said. "Too much vocally, but that's what he wanted.''

    Carter made the Hall of Fame in his sixth year of eligibility in 2003. He wanted to be inducted in a Mets-Expos cap, but officials designated the Expos. His No. 8 was retired by the Expos -- now the Washington Nationals -- and the Mets have not used the number since he was inducted.

    "It's nice to know that even though my body feels like an old man now, I will always be a kid at heart,'' he said in his induction speech. "I love this great game.''
    Hey Jackass! You need to [Register] or log in to view signatures on ROTHARMY.COM!

  2. 2 users say thank you to fryingdutchman for this KICKASS post:

    Matt White (02-17-2012),So this is love (02-17-2012)


  3. #2
    ROTH KILL!
    ROTH ARMY ELITE
    BITEYOASS's Avatar
    Member No
    175
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Last Online
    01-17-2021 @ 08:52 PM
    Location
    Montgomery, AL
    Age
    44
    Posts
    6,531
    Status
    Offline
    Thanks
    952
    Thanked 708 Times in 517 Posts


    Rep Power
    34
    Damn! I thought Daryl Strawberry was going to die before Gary was. Of course those 86' Mets partied like rockstars.
    Hey Jackass! You need to [Register] or log in to view signatures on ROTHARMY.COM!

  4. #3
    Atomic Punk of Los Santos
    Full Member Status

    fryingdutchman's Avatar
    Member No
    11316
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Last Online
    01-28-2017 @ 09:31 PM
    Location
    The Original Capital
    Age
    54
    Posts
    4,132
    Status
    Offline
    Thanks
    318
    Thanked 737 Times in 473 Posts


    Rep Power
    32
    Quote Originally Posted by BITEYOASS View Post
    Damn! I thought Daryl Strawberry was going to die before Gary was. Of course those 86' Mets partied like rockstars.
    It is amazing when you put it in that perspective. Considering what a drug-addled mess Strawberry was, one would think that he would have gone first.

    It's always the good ones that go...

  5. #4
    Atomic Punk of Los Santos
    Full Member Status

    fryingdutchman's Avatar
    Member No
    11316
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Last Online
    01-28-2017 @ 09:31 PM
    Location
    The Original Capital
    Age
    54
    Posts
    4,132
    Status
    Offline
    Thanks
    318
    Thanked 737 Times in 473 Posts


    Rep Power
    32
    Didn't see that the Carter story was buried in the 2012 MLB thread...

    Webbies...feel free to merge.

    But I think "The Kid" deserves his own thread.

  6. #5
    ∞ SHEEP PEN GYPSY
    Matt White's Avatar
    Member No
    5688
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Last Online
    01-25-2024 @ 06:27 PM
    Location
    ON THE ROAD
    Age
    56
    Posts
    20,446
    Status
    Offline
    Thanks
    1,512
    Thanked 1,031 Times in 685 Posts


    Rep Power
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by fryingdutchman View Post
    Didn't see that the Carter story was buried in the 2012 MLB thread...

    Webbies...feel free to merge.

    But I think "The Kid" deserves his own thread.
    Good call FD............

    GARY CARTER ROCKS!!!

    The passing of an ICON deserves the extra attention!!

    Always a CLASS ACT & all-around good guy!

    RIP KID!!!
    Hey Jackass! You need to [Register] or log in to view signatures on ROTHARMY.COM!

  7. #6
    Veteran
    So this is love's Avatar
    Member No
    27806
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last Online
    03-16-2024 @ 07:09 PM
    Location
    N.America
    Posts
    2,395
    Status
    Offline
    Thanks
    584
    Thanked 301 Times in 227 Posts


    Rep Power
    18
    RIP Gary Carter and thanks for the memories.....
    Hey Jackass! You need to [Register] or log in to view signatures on ROTHARMY.COM!

  8. #7
    The Frosty One...
    Crazy Ass Mofo
    hambon4lif's Avatar
    Member No
    5787
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Last Online
    06-25-2015 @ 02:24 PM
    Location
    at your sisters place
    Age
    55
    Posts
    2,810
    Status
    Offline
    Thanks
    525
    Thanked 1,558 Times in 850 Posts


    Rep Power
    38
    Carter was the one behind the plate that caught Dave Parker's hellacious shotgun throw in the 1979 All-Star Game. Still one of the greatest plays ever.

    There's a bit of baseball trivia that'll get ya' a free drink at the bar.

    May 'The Kid' R.I.P.

    Hey Jackass! You need to [Register] or log in to view signatures on ROTHARMY.COM!

  9. #8
    a.k.a. Flappo The Grate
    Full Member Status

    Little Texan's Avatar
    Member No
    31
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Last Online
    10-17-2023 @ 11:02 AM
    Location
    Laneville, TX
    Age
    47
    Posts
    4,579
    Status
    Offline
    Thanks
    2,479
    Thanked 531 Times in 359 Posts


    Rep Power
    30
    Quote Originally Posted by fryingdutchman View Post
    It is amazing when you put it in that perspective. Considering what a drug-addled mess Strawberry was, one would think that he would have gone first.

    It's always the good ones that go...
    Yeah, you would have figured cokeheads Strawberry and Doc Gooden, both, would have died from an OD long before Gary Carter.
    Hey Jackass! You need to [Register] or log in to view signatures on ROTHARMY.COM!

  10. #9
    LIGHT EM UP!!
    Crazy Ass Mofo
    chi-town324's Avatar
    Member No
    22898
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Last Online
    01-31-2015 @ 07:51 AM
    Location
    chicago
    Posts
    2,618
    Status
    Offline
    Thanks
    46
    Thanked 111 Times in 70 Posts


    Rep Power
    21
    from headache to dead in 9 months...cancer is some evil shit....loved the kid as a player
    Hey Jackass! You need to [Register] or log in to view signatures on ROTHARMY.COM!

  11. #10
    ROTH ARMY WEBMASTER

    Seshmeister's Avatar
    Member No
    11
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Last Online
    Yesterday @ 08:53 PM
    Location
    Scotland
    Posts
    35,063
    Status
    Offline
    Thanks
    2,813
    Thanked 9,337 Times in 6,024 Posts


    Rep Power
    10
    It also means once you get over 40 every time you get a headache you have the added bonus of wondering if it's game over...
    Hey Jackass! You need to [Register] or log in to view signatures on ROTHARMY.COM!

  12. #11
    ALABAMA CHROME!
    Head Fluffer
    qikgts's Avatar
    Member No
    27766
    Join Date
    Jan 2012
    Last Online
    04-11-2017 @ 03:00 AM
    Location
    IKH
    Posts
    498
    Status
    Offline
    Thanks
    237
    Thanked 79 Times in 58 Posts


    Rep Power
    13
    Rip to Gary Carter...

    As a little kid in South Florida, I got the chance to go to a baseball clinc at Miami Dade University (As it was called back then) and he was there along with Warren Cromartie and Andre Dawson. No doubt, all three of them were a class act and left a great impression. IIRC, "Mr. Coffee" (Joe Dimaggio) was there too. That's what I knew him as. My dad tuned me up real quick on that one...

    http://news.google.com/newspapers?ni...g=4323,1240228

    I don't remeber any of the other guys mentioned in the article being there, but hey, I was like 9...
    Hey Jackass! You need to [Register] or log in to view signatures on ROTHARMY.COM!

  13. #12
    Von loves Brady
    ROTH ARMY SUPREME
    TFM_Dale's Avatar
    Member No
    24279
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Last Online
    12-09-2022 @ 10:36 AM
    Location
    Michigan, Go Blue!
    Age
    48
    Posts
    7,943
    Status
    Offline
    Thanks
    1,225
    Thanked 1,465 Times in 1,023 Posts


    Rep Power
    38
    RIP Gary, class act on a shady team. Heaven has a hell of baseball team.
    Hey Jackass! You need to [Register] or log in to view signatures on ROTHARMY.COM!

  14. #13
    ROTH KILL!
    ROTH ARMY ELITE
    BITEYOASS's Avatar
    Member No
    175
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Last Online
    01-17-2021 @ 08:52 PM
    Location
    Montgomery, AL
    Age
    44
    Posts
    6,531
    Status
    Offline
    Thanks
    952
    Thanked 708 Times in 517 Posts


    Rep Power
    34
    Quote Originally Posted by TFM_Dale View Post
    RIP Gary, class act on a shady team. Heaven has a hell of baseball team.
    I wonder who is in Hell's baseball team, Ty Cobb?

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Replies: 77
    Last Post: 03-08-2010, 01:58 AM
  2. Hall of Fame coach Hank Stram dead at 82
    By ALinChainz in forum ALinChainz' Locker Room - Sports Central
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 07-06-2005, 09:47 AM
  3. VH in the Hall Of Fame
    By fe_lung in forum Main VH/DLR Discussion
    Replies: 21
    Last Post: 08-22-2004, 07:36 PM
  4. VH in the Hall of Fame?
    By marleymahn in forum Main VH/DLR Discussion
    Replies: 18
    Last Post: 04-02-2004, 10:28 PM
  5. ZZ Top- RnR Hall of Fame-
    By degüello in forum House of Music
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 03-20-2004, 04:00 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •