" The Kid comes in at number 11 !"
When you dissect the Mets of the mid to late ’80′s, you can sort of develop a timeline when the Mets went from pitiful losers to a perennial 90 plus team win. It is obvious the the turning point came in June of ’83 when the Mets obtained Keith Hernandez from the St Louis Cardinals , as well as the a still unripened Darryl Strawberry being promoted to the team. In 1984, the emergence of both Dwight Gooden and Ron Darling led the Mets to their first winning record in eight years. But it can be argued that in 1985 the biggest piece of the puzzle would be fastened into place. That puzzle piece in number eleven on the countdown of the top 50 Mets as voted by you the fans. That man is no other than Gary Carter.
Gary Edmund Carter was born in Culver City, California on April 8, 1954. After he graduated high school, Gary was drafted by the Montreal Expos in the he third round of the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft. It is a little known fact that Gary was signed originally as a shortstop upon his being drafted, before switching to catcher.
While he was with the Expos Triple A affiliate, Memphis Blues, Gary was one of the most feared hitters at that level. He finished the ’74 season with 23 homers while driving in in 83 runs. Later that season, Carter would earn a September call up with the Expos. Ironically enough, he made his Major League debut against the Mets, going 0-4. He finished the season with a .407 batting average in 38 official at bats with one homer.
In 1975, Gary made the Expos out of Spring training. He was used primarily as a catcher, but he did spend some time in right field. Gary was selected to his first ever All Star Game that season – as the National League right fielder !! He never came to bat, instead he was used as a defensive replacement in the ninth inning. Gary finished the season with a batting average of .270 with 17 home runs and 68 RBIs. He finished second to John “ The Count” Montefusco, the San Francisco Giants pitcher for the National League Rookie of the Year award. Gary did earn the The Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award instead.
In 1976, Gary still shuttled back and forth between the out field and catching. He broke his finger during the season, which allowed him to play in only 91 games. It was a disapointing season for Gary offensively. He hit just .219 with six home runs and 38 RBIs.
In 1977, Carter was ordained the Expos everyday catcher after they traded then starting catcher, Barry Foote that June. Gary had a career year, belting 31 home runs while plating 84 RBIs.
During ’80- ’84 . Gary was a perennial All Star and Gold Glove catcher for the Expos. He consistently hit over twenty homers and driving in more than eighty RBI’s during this span of time.
After the 1984 season, the Expos felt it was time for a change, and they traded their prized bat to the Mets in exchange for third baseman, Hubie Brooks, catcher, Mike Fitzgerald, minor league outfield prospect, Herm Winningham and highly touted pitching prospect, Floyd Youmans.
In his first game as a Met on Opening Day of 1985. Carter immediately ingratiated himself with Mets fans everywhere when he hit a walk off home run against former Mets closer, Neil Allen to give the Mets a 6-5 Opening Day victory over the St. Louis Cardinals. Carter along with Keith Hernandez would provide the veteran leadership that would help turn the Mets into contender. During the ’85 season, the Mets and Cardinals would fight each other tooth and nail the entire season for first place. The Card eventually bested the Mets by three games, and ended up facing the Royals in the World Series. Gary had one of the best years of his career. He his .281 with 32 home runs and 100 runs batted in that season. He finished sixth in the NL MVP voting that season .
In 1986 the stars would align for both Gary and the Mets. Gary was hobbled tby injuries that season, but he still managed to play in 132 games that season batting .255 with 24 homers and 105 RBIs ( which tied the Mets team record held by Rusty Staub). The Mets ended up winning 108 games that season, leaving the entire National League in the dust. The Mets closest competitors, The Philadelphia Philles trailed the Mets by 21.5 games.
The Mets did not have a easy time in the playoffs. They barely made it past the Houston Astros in six games in the NLCS, and they ended up beating the Boston Red Sox in seven games in the 1986 World Series. During the World Series, Gary hit .276 with nine RBIs .In game four of the World Series at Fenway Park in Boston, Carter launched two home runs over the ”Green Monster“.
It was Gary who started that legendary two out rally in the tenth inning of game six. He would score on a single by Ray Knight, and the Mets would end up being victorious on the famous Mookie Wilson dribbler through the legs of Bill Buckner.
After the glorious year that was 1986, Gary’s career would quickly start it’s way into decline. Carter did play in 139 games in the ’87 season, but his knees were starting to betray him. He batted .235 with 20 homers and 83 RBIs that season.
In August of ’88 Gary hit his milestone 300th career home run against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. As a fan this chase seemed to go on forever. Gary only hit eleven homers that season, and I guess when he hit that one for number 300 it was a bit of a relief to us fans. He would have a career low 46 RBIs for the Mets that season and batted a anemic .242. The Mets made it to the NLCS that season against the Dodgers, losing in seven games. Gary hit a woefully low.222 that post season with 0 homers and 4 RBI’s.
Gary was released after a injury riddles ’89 season which limited him to 50 games. he batted .183 with 2 homers that season. It was evident that his career was waning, but us Mets fans were surprised that it happened so fast.
In his five seasons with the Mets, Gary hit 89 home runs with 349 RBI’s while hitting .249.
After leaving the Mets, Gary jumped around from the San Francisco Giants to the Los Angeles Dodgers. In 1992 Gary ended his career where it started when he was selected Carter off waivers from the Dodgers by the Expos. He retired after the season ended.
Carter finished his career with a fielding percentage of a .991 . He currently ranks sixth all-time in career home runs by a catcher with 298.
After his retirement, Carter became a color commentator for Florida Marlins television broadcasts from 1993-1996.
In 2001 Gary was inducted into the New York Mets Hall of Fame.
In 2003 Gary was elected to Baseball Hall of Fame . He is enshrined as a Expo ( one of the only players to have that distinction). It has been reported that Gary had asked if his plaque could depict him as both a Met as well as a Expo, but he was rebuffed.
Gary has been employed on and off with the Mets through the years. In ’05 he was named the manager of the Gulf Coast Mets . He one the league’s Manager of the Year award that season. That next year, Gary was promoted to the A-level St. Lucie Mets, where he managed his team to the 2006 Florida State League championship. He would win the leagues Manager of the Year Award that season also. In 2008, Gary took a lot of heat when he gave a interview in which he came across as campaigning for Willie Randolph’s managers job, even though Randolph was not yet fired.
In 2008, , Carter was named the manager of the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Former Met Bud Harrelson in co-owner off the team.
Gary was on hand to ” Shea Goodbye ” to Shea Stadium in September of ’08 .
Tomorrow we will start the final leg of our journey by revealing number ten on the countdown – quite possibly one of the best outfielders the Mets had in their first decade.
And with that said… HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!
Believe it or not – nothing infamous nor important happened on this day in infamy !!!
So while you stay at home today watching the Mets first game of Spring training, just remember that there are just 34 Cleon Jones until the Mets open the 2011 season against the Florida Marlins in Miami., and just 41 more days until the Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
Mo Vaughn asked for a $ 25 loan from the MLB offices , but was turned down stone cold !!!
14 comments
kingman 26
2/26/2011-9:01am at 9:01 am (UTC -4)
HAHA! How appropriate after TRS’ piece yesterday!
I vividly remember being a college freshman and hearing the news about Carter; I knew it was the last piece in what would be great teams. Just one title maybe, but after 25 years, that title looks bigger all the time.
Imagine if we did not even have that one and were still looking back at 1969!
Great job as always my friend, and while there might not be TOO much mystery as to who is left, the order they will come in is definitely very interesting to anticipate.
Have a great weekend everyone and LGM!!!
ajgmets
2/26/2011-8:27pm at 8:27 pm (UTC -4)
Gary Carter, Hall of Famer, 11 time All star, 3 Gold Gloves, 3 Silver Slugger awards and a World Series championship with the New York Mets. Not much else to say other than, there should have been more titles, especially while a Mets player and maybe he’d be in the top 10 “Greatest Mets of All Time” in Ed’s series we’re all enjoying so much.
The impact of Carter’s ebullient personality, presence, contributions and undeniable talent became overwhelmingly evident the moment he hit the game winning HR in his first home game as a Met. His continued success went hand in hand with the success of that much beloved group of players who in 1986 would set the MLB world on its collective ear as they basically steamrolled to the title.
To be candid, I was never the biggest member of the “Kid’s” fan club and was pleasantly elated at the impact he provided and will always remember fondly the smile and manner of hardnosed playing he brought to Flushing in 1985 as a key component in what would become a dominant ballclub.
I really believe that Carter’s outspoken manner regarding the clubs management after his retirement has taken some of the luster off of his Mets career. His criticism of Mets management along with his constant requests to be manager has left a sour taste in many fans mouths…
Carter’s Mets career and the entirety of his MLB body of work have been recognized by Baseball’s hallowed hall and must be revered forever by all Mets fans.
Nice piece here Ed..
metsfan4decades
2/26/2011-9:21am at 9:21 am (UTC -4)
No denying Carter was an integral part of that championship team. I really thought with his acquisition in ’85, it was going to be our year. Just fell short, even with what Carter brought to the table that year. I remember thinking something like what’s it going to take to win this division?
Turns out all you needed was Davey telling them up front it was their year, they were going to dominate – and dominate they did in ’86.
Carter wasn’t one of my favorites on that ’86 team but there was no denying what he brought and glad he was there.
TRS86
2/26/2011-10:26am at 10:26 am (UTC -4)
Like I said yesterday, loved Carter and he came up huge in 85 and 86 and then just fell off a cliff.
saltygary
2/26/2011-10:29am at 10:29 am (UTC -4)
I can’t believe Mr. Overated made it this high. I bet an argument could be made that he shouldn’t of made the list at al.
TRS86
2/26/2011-10:59am at 10:59 am (UTC -4)
LOL, man you guys don’t understand the idea of overrated underrated. I had him about here on my list too.
hazmet
2/26/2011-11:48am at 11:48 am (UTC -4)
Let me take a crack at this.
Overrated: Metsblog
Underated: The Real Dirty Mets Blog
stickguy
2/26/2011-11:53am at 11:53 am (UTC -4)
If you thought he was a HOF, superstar catcher for his entire met tenure, overrated.
If you thought he was Rod Barajas who had a couple of lucky OK years, underrated.
TRS86
2/26/2011-11:55am at 11:55 am (UTC -4)
Yeah pretty much. Now which category do you think MOST Mets fans fall in? Myself I fall right in the middle but I am not so sure that your average Mets fan does.
njstuckintx
2/26/2011-1:59pm at 1:59 pm (UTC -4)
Actually, wouldn’t being overrated help him to scale the ranks and be listed high?
stickguy
2/26/2011-1:13pm at 1:13 pm (UTC -4)
first real exhibition game today. Probaby deserves it’s own post. But, here is the lineup:
The Mets open their exhibition season against the Braves this afternoon at Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie. Game time is 1:10 pm.
The lineup is as follows:
1. Jose Reyes SS
2. Luis Castillo 2B
3. David Wright 3B
4. Angel Pagan CF
5. Jason Bay LF
6. Ike Davis 1B
7. Josh Thole C
8. Scott Hairston DH
9. Fernando Martinez RF
LIke it overall. Even without Beltran, still better than most of the ones they ran out there last year!
except, of course, for my worst nightmare. If Castillo is at 2B and hitting 2nd (hell, hitting anyway) opening day, I am boycotting the team.
TRS86
2/26/2011-1:30pm at 1:30 pm (UTC -4)
Thanks and done.
Fred
2/27/2011-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
You didn’t mention that the reason the Expos traded the Kid was because he was pretty much run out of town by Raines, Cromartie, and Dawson who felt that Carter’s enthusiasm was showing up their preferred laid back and surly attitudes which likely prevented the Expos from ever winning a ring. The Kid took the fall for that, and we got our championship (much like how Whitey and the Cards unfairly blamed Keith and ran him out of town). I’m glad Carter is on the list and I think he got the spot he deserved.
rustyjr
2/27/2011-10:39am at 10:39 am (UTC -4)
I was going to but I felt it was secondary to his story