Gary Carter (1954-2012)

It's one of those stories you hate to read...but catching great Gary Carter has passed away following his public battle with brain cancer.

He was 57.

"I am deeply saddened to tell you all that my precious dad went to be with Jesus today at 4:10 p.m.," Carter's daughter Kimmy Bloemers wrote on the family website. "This is the most difficult thing I have ever had to write in my entire life but I wanted you all to know."

"The Kid" played 19 years in the Majors...primarily for the Montreal Expos and New York Mets. He finished his career with 2092 hits, 324 home runs and, of course, that 1986 World Series ring.

And when he retired in 1992...he had caught more games than any other National League player.

I had a chance to talk with Carter shortly after he finished up his first season as the head coach of the Palm Beach Atlantic University Men’s Baseball team and asked him what his most memorable travel experience was.

His answer?

"Probably (going) to the White House after we won the 1986 World Series or maybe my first All-Star game in Milwaukee," the 11-time All-Star said, "the excitement and anticipation was overwhelming."

Something tells me his trip to Cooperstown was memorable as well. 

In 2003, Carter became the first player to enter The Hall of Fame wearing an Expos cap on his plaque.

Gary Carter in "Grave" Condition

It's one of those ledes that you hate to write, but I think Bill Madden from the New York Daily News nailed it on the head and wrote it the most succinctly..."Gary Carter’s fight with brain cancer has turned from brave to extremely grave."

Thursday night, Carter's daughter posted on the family website that the Hall of Famer's most recent MRI revealed “several new spots/tumors on his brain".

She also revealed that one of her father’s doctors “will be coming to my parents’ house (Thursday night) to talk to the family about the next step".

Reportedly, the family is debating whether or not to continue treatments of any kind.

All of this is pretty startling news since, back in August, word from the Carter camp was that everything was progressing well.  But, then again, that was back in August.

First diagnosed with the tumors in May, the former catcher has had a pretty rough go of it that past few months.

According to Madden:

In recent weeks, Carter’s condition has visibly worsened, and he began complaining of severe headaches, fatigue and balance problems that resulted in a fall on Christmas Day in which he tore his rotator cuff.

This past week, “The Kid” spent almost all of his time at his home in Palm Beach Gardens and was too weak Monday to attend his annual charity golf tournament a few miles away.

I had a chance to talk with Carter a while back...feel free to check out the interview.

An Update on "The Kid"

It seems like forever since we've heard anything about Gary Carter's condition doesn't it?

Well, according to ESPN New York...there is some fantastic news from the Carter camp:

I just got off the phone with my mom and I have WONDERFUL news!

Doctor V said specifically that dad's tumors are 80% better! He is very encouraged and very very pleased with these results (as we ALL are!!) There is much less swelling and the tumors are less dense and "less angry". The size is a little smaller but the most important fact is that these tumors are starting to GO AWAY! Praise the Lord - praise the Lord!!!

The plan is now for dad to start treatment that will require 5 days of chemo in a pill form and then he will do Avastin twice a month.

On a side note, Dr. V told my parents a shocking and unbelievable story that we hadn't known until today. When my dad got his very FIRST MRI in Palm Beach County, his tumors were bad; HOWEVER, we did not realize that when he got his next MRI (only 10 days later at DUKE), Dr. V said they had doubled in size. That is how aggressive they were and so this makes the results that much MORE amazing!

Mom and dad are heading home tonight and are so encouraged! We thank you all for praying for my dad and cheering for TEAM CARTER. We rejoice and praise our Heavenly Father for this news!

Back in May, the Hall of Fame catcher was diagnosed with four malignant tumors in his brain after complaining of headaches and forgetfulness.

Following tests, doctors confirmed that Carter's cancer is indeed inoperable, so the news from his daughter Kimmy Bloemers is amazing to say the least.

You can leave well wishes for "The Kid" over at the Well Wishes for Gary website.  Last year at this time, I had a chance to talk with the 2003 Hall of Fame inductee.   Feel free to read my interview with him.

Hey Mets...Why Wait? Retire The Kid's Number!

By now, we all know the latest news regarding Gary Carter. 

And, as they should, tributes to the ailing Hall of Famer are popping up all over the interwebs.

Wednesday, I happened to stumble on New York Post scribe Mike Vaccaro's piece suggesting that, in light of Carter's brain cancer, the New York Mets retire their former captain's number.

Vaccaro made his thoughts known right out of the gate:

The disgrace is that the Mets had 22 years to do the right thing based on performance, based on accomplishment, based on Gary Carter’s inviolable place in the collective heart of their fans. He is a Hall-of-Fame player who played the meat of his prime as a Met. He was the missing piece to a championship puzzle.

I read the rest of the piece in awe. 

Dude was right on all fronts.  The Mets have, seemingly, all but ignored their legacy and by not having acknowledged "The Kid" by now...they're pretty much ignoring the importance of his influence on that group of misfits 25 years ago.

Sure, they inducted Carter into their team Hall of Fame...but it wasn't until 2001.  Five years AFTER they enshrined his former teammate on that 1986 World Championship team, Mookie Wilson.

Vaccaro goes on to point out that retiring Carter's number now would look reactionary given the former team captain's fight, but, honestly...who cares?

Why wait?

Gary Carter Update

So, yeah, I'm a pretty cynical bastard...my string of nonsensical Jeff Conaway tweets should have proven that by now.

But, I'll be honest...the Gary Carter news is kinda hitting me like a ton of bricks.

Saturday it was reveiled that he had four "small" brain tumors and now, today, the New York Daily News is reporting this:

Stricken Mets great Gary Carter has received ominous news from doctors at Duke University, who say that they are "90% certain" that tumors on his brain are malignant, according to a Carter family website.

According to the family's website, doctors have said that even if malignant, the tumors could be treatable.  Carter won't know the official diagnosis until early or the middle of next week, but, man, I think I speak for everyone when I say...this sucks.

I had a chance to talk with "The Kid" last year at this time.  Feel free to read my interview with the Hall of Famer.

A Year of Talkin' Baseball

'tis the season for plenty of things...returning Christmas presents, going back to work and, of course, year-enders!

The Hall of Very Good is no different.

Next week, following the Hall of Fame announcement (read as: I'm too busy/lazy to do it now), come on back for the Top Ten Stories of the Year.

Today...it's a year of "Talkin' Baseball".  That's right, the best of what has become my favorite part of doing this site...talkin' baseball with whoever will respond to the request.  Click the BOLD text to read the entire piece!

GAR RYNESS, aka "Batting Stance Guy" (February)

Manny (Ramirez) is great to me. I’ve done pre-game shows for visiting teams at Dodgers Stadium and Manny will always scream and whistle across the field while I’m filming. “Do Ethier! Do Ethier!” I’ll then hold up a finger, as if to say, “Hold on Manny, I’ll come over there after this.” The first time that happened the Cardinals TV staff said, “wait, do you know Manny?” That’s when it hit me how weird the last two years have been.

"Diamond King" DICK PEREZ (February)

As far back as I can remember, I had a desire to draw. On the margins around my school notebooks there were caricatures of school mates and images from my imagination. After I realized that there was no way I would ever achieve my real dream of becoming a professional baseball player, I concluded that I had to choose a real life career. I chose art.

Hall of Famer GARY CARTER (May)

The loss of my Mom was a huge impact on my life as we were a very loving family that went to church regularly. I didn’t understand why a loving God would take someone away as dear as her. It helped me to understand how fragile life is.

Author GEORGE CASTLE (May), Talkin' Andre Dawson (July) and Lou Piniella (September)

Sammy (Sosa) is still too raw for Cubs fans. Worse than alleged steroid use, he walked out on the team on the last day of the 2004 season. However, I don’t feel Sammy will be regarded in the same breath as Banks, Williams, Santo, Jenkins, Sandberg. His ego exploded as he got successful, and that will stain him forever.

Talkin' Ken Griffey Jr. with KEN GRIFFEY SR., JEFF MONTGOMERY and C.J. WILSON (June)

After announcing that I would retire at the end of the 1999 season, Junior asked me if I would give him a signed jersey…which I did. The next day in our clubhouse was an autographed Griffey jersey.

Competitive Eater PAT BERTOLETTI (July)

I usually spend most of the game wandering around trying to eat at all the food stands. I think the White Sox have the best food in the league. I would only go to a Cubs game if there were free tickets and Old Style involved.

Reality Show "All Stars" JONNY FAIRPLAY (September), ROB CESTERNINO (September) and RUSSELL KOOK (December)

If I were going to start an alliance with any past Mets, first on the list would be former (and hopefully future) manager Bobby Valentine. I also am very partial to both Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez and think they do a great job calling the game and are both really interesting guys and have great baseball IQ.. And Keith, on day one, would have the greatest mustache in "Survivor" history. Unquestioned.

Outspoken Pitcher JEFF JUDEN (October)

I would still like (a 1999 Yankees World Series ring) if they have any spare change left. I have room on my middle finger for it.

Former O.J. Simpson, nevermind...it's KATO KAELIN (November)

Airline ticket to Milwaukee…$450.00. Car rental…$150.00. Tickets to game…$55.00. Sitting next to Shawn from The Hall of Very Good…PRICELESS.

San Francisco Giants' Biggest Fan ASHKON DAVARAN (December)

I had a chance to meet Steve (Perry) before the World Series Parade, and he seemed to be pretty cool with it. I thanked him for writing one of the best songs of all time…he said thanks and that I did a good job with it.

All in all...a great year for talkin' baseball.  Sure, I'm biased and I wish I could add more of my favorites (for example DANIEL NAVA, GARRETT WITTELS and MATHER ZICKEL from "The Bronx is Burning"), but since most lists are "Top Ten" lists...I decided to keep it at ten.

Which was your favorite?  Please let me know below!

Friday 5: Gary Carter

Last week, I had the honor of "Talkin' Baseball" with Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter. This week, naturally, he knocks out the “Friday 5”.

HOVG: Who was your biggest influence and why?

CARTER: Probably my brother and my Dad. My brother is four years older and I always wanted to be like him but wanted to be better.

HOVG: What is your most memorable travel experience?

CARTER: Probably to the White House after we won the 1986 World Series or maybe my first All-Star game in Milwaukee. The excitement and anticipation was overwhelming.

HOVG: What is your favorite baseball term or saying?

CARTER: He couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a boat.

HOVG: What is your best experience or greatest accomplishment?

CARTER: Winning the World Series and being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame

HOVG: When did you know that you “made it”?

CARTER: Playing winter baseball for Caguas in Puerto Rico, we won the Caribe World Series and we won in 1973-1974. I was the MVP of the Series and hit well against big league pitchers.

Gary Carter recently completed his first season as the head coach of the Palm Beach Atlantic University Men’s Baseball team. Under his leadership, the Sailfish finished the year 17-24…up from 10-36 in 2009.

Talkin' Baseball with Gary Carter

At 15-13 on May 7, this is the latest in a season that the Washington Nationals have been above .500 since their inaugural season in 2005 when they were 17-13 on the same date.

By comparison, the Nationals didn't win their 15th game last season until June 2...and by that point, they were already 15-36 and 15.5 games back.

And since I’m calling them the “Washington Nationals”, I’m also reminded of the bitter pill that is Montreal, Canada without baseball.

Throughout my youth and early adulthood, there were always two teams in Canada…the one with a goofy logo on their cap and the Blue Jays. Of the two, I rooted more for the team with the goofy logo on their cap than the one that called Toronto home.

The Montreal Expos had limited success in their 36 years, reaching the playoffs only once back in 1981. But it was that very team that brought us some of the National League’s finest players of the ‘80s…Gary Carter, Tim Raines, Andre Dawson and Jeff Reardon.

So, instead of the normal Friday feature (spoiler alert…you’ll get Carter’s “Friday 5” next week), here’s me and “The Kid” talkin’ some baseball.

HOVG: Certain events in our lives shape the way we go about our business every day. What effect did your Mom’s passing when you were eight years old have on your childhood, playing career…and life in general?

CARTER: The loss of my Mom was a huge impact on my life as we were a very loving family that went to church regularly. I didn’t understand why a loving God would take someone away as dear as her. It helped me to understand how fragile life is. I asked Christ into my life in 1973 at age 19.

HOVG: You spent 12 of your 19 seasons as an Expo…what would it have meant to the city of Montreal for you, Tim Raines and Andre Dawson to have brought a World Series championship to Canada?

CARTER: It would have meant the world, maybe to the extent the team may not have ever moved. They are the city of Champions.

HOVG: Personally, what did going back to Montreal in 1992 and retiring an Expo mean to you?

CARTER: It meant a lot because that is where it all started. And now that “The Hawk” (Andre Dawson) is in the Hall of Fame, it’s nice to share the honor with him.

HOVG: You made it into the Hall of Fame on your sixth try…did Dawson ever call you for advice on how to handle the pressures of “will I make it in” or “won’t I”?

CARTER: No. I just kept encouraging him.

HOVG: This July, you’ll be on that stage in Cooperstown when “The Hawk” finally makes his way to Cooperstown. How long until Raines gets his call?

CARTER: It may be a long time or maybe never. He has good numbers but that is a tough call.

HOVG: You’ve had the privilege of playing under some of the game’s great managers…Dick Williams during your first couple of years in Montreal, Tommy Lasorda with the Dodgers and, of course, Davey Johnson while with the Mets. What are your thoughts on each?

CARTER: I enjoyed playing for each manager but of those three. Davey Johnson was the most fun. Dick Williams gave me the opportunity to play regularly and I was an extra player when I played for Tommy Lasorda.

HOVG: Williams and Lasorda are, obviously, Hall of Famers. This past winter, Davey Johnson fell well short of Cooperstown in what was his second appearance on the Veterans Committee ballot…does he belong in the Hall of Fame?

CARTER: I believe he does as he was successful at every place he managed

HOVG: In recent years, we’ve seen you go from the diamond to the broadcast booth to, now, coaching. What influence did some of your previous managers have on you?

CARTER: I have taken a little something from each manager I played for and have tried to develop my own style.

HOVG: You’ve managed in the minors and now coached collegiately…is a job in the Majors in your future?

CARTER: Probably at this point, no, unless some great opportunity came along.


Gary Carter recently completed his first season as the head coach of the Palm Beach Atlantic University Men’s Baseball team. Under his leadership, the Sailfish finished the year 17-24…up from 10-36 in 2009.

Carter is regarded as one of the greatest catchers of his generation and has a laundry of awards to show for it. With eleven All-Star Game appearances (ten straight at one point), three Gold Gloves, a World Series ring and a plaque in Cooperstown…he’s accomplished about as much as anyone could ever want while in the Majors.

Carter’s charitable foundation is trying to do its part to get the tools for learning into the hands of disadvantaged youth so they, too, can accomplish everything they want. You can visit The Gary Carter Foundation online HERE.