Gary Carter
The Kid who led the Mets to glory and became a Hall of Fame Expos icon.
via Wikipedia: Gary Carter · see source
Gary Edmund Carter (April 8, 1954 – February 16, 2012) was an American professional baseball catcher whose 19-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career was spent primarily with the Montreal Expos and New York Mets. Nicknamed "the Kid" for his youthful exuberance, Carter was named an All-Star 11 times and was a member of the 1986 World Series champion Mets.
Quick Facts
- Position
- Catcher
- Bats
- Right
- Born
- 8 April 1954
- Birthplace
- Culver City, California, U.S.
- Died
- 16 February 2012
- Place of death
- Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, U.S.
- Debut league
- MLB
- Debut date
- September 16
Lore & Background
Carter was known throughout his career for his hitting, excellent defense, ability to handle pitchers and on-field leadership. He made clutch contributions to the Mets' World Series championship in 1986, including a 12th-inning single against the Houston Astros to win Game 5 of the NLCS and a 10th-inning single against the Boston Red Sox to start the comeback rally in Game 6 of the World Series. He is one of only four players to be named captain of the Mets, and the Expos retired his number 8. After leaving the major leagues, Carter coached baseball at the college and minor-league levels. In 2003, Carter was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, becoming the first Hall of Famer whose plaque depicts him as a member of the Montreal Expos.
Reader's Guide
Carter is the only player to hit two home runs in both an All-Star Game (1981) and a World Series game (1986). He hit the decisive home run in the 1984 All-Star Game, earning him his second All-Star Game MVP award. He caught Charlie Lea's no-hitter on May 10, 1981.
Did You Know?
- Carter won the seven-year-old category of the first national Punt, Pass, and Kick skills competition in 1961.
- He was named the 1971 American Legion Graduate of the Year.
- Carter received the Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award in 1975.
More in Legendary Players
Elsewhere in Washington Nationals
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced