RIP Gary "Kid" Carter

Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter dies at age 57 - ESPN (http://espn.go.com/mlb/story/_/id/7583267/hall-fame-catcher-gary-carter-dies-age-57)

A sad day for baseball fans everywhere. As a Montrealer and lifelong Expos fan this is especially sad. The Expos had many stars over the years, but if you asked fans who their favorite Expo of all-time is, Carter would win in a landslide. He was our first true North American sports star. Hall of Famer and class act all the way. Everything an athlete should be and more.

RIP Kid. You will be missed.

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"A perennial fan favorite, Carter returned to Montreal in 1992 for one final season. His last swing was a memorable one -- he hit an RBI double in the seventh inning at Olympic Stadium, left for a pinch runner to a huge ovation from the home crowd and walked away after that 1-0 win over the Cubs."

I was at this game. The amazing thing is he hit the ball over Dawson's head. To this day I still think Dawson coulda had it but wanted to give Carter his moment. One of the best sports moments of my life. I miss Harry Caray too.

Gary Carter's last career hit.... RIP Gary "Kid" Carter (April 8, 1954 -- February 16, 2012) - YouTube

And I'll never forget "Parker to Carter" back when the All-Star game meant something.

Midsummer Classics (1979) - YouTube

"He was especially enthused during the biggest moment of his career. The powerful Mets were down to their last chance in the '86 Series when Carter stepped up with two outs. No one was on base and New York was trailing Boston 5-3 in the bottom of the 10th inning in Game 6.

Carter said he had just one thought in mind: "I wasn't going to make the last out of the World Series."

True to his word, he delivered a clean single to left field off Red Sox reliever Calvin Schiraldi. Kevin Mitchell followed with a single and when Ray Knight also singled, Carter scampered home from second base.

As Carter crossed the plate, he clapped his hands, pointed at Wilson on deck and clapped again. Moments later, Bill Buckner's error scored Knight for an amazing 6-5 win. Carter rushed from the dugout to join the celebration at home plate, catcher's gear already on.

Overshadowed by the rally was the fact that Carter had tied the game with a sacrifice fly in the eighth. Then in Game 7, Carter drove in the tying run in the sixth inning, and the Mets went on to win their most recent championship.

Carter homered twice over the Green Monster at Fenway Park in Game 4 and totaled nine RBIs in that Series. Since then, only one player has gotten more in a World Series (Sandy Alomar Jr. had 10 for Cleveland in 1997)."

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"Carter, an 11-time All Star, was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003 after retiring in 1992. He finished his 19-year career with a .262 average, 324 home runs and 1,225 RBIs."

"He led the Expos to their only playoff berth and was the first player enshrined in Cooperstown wearing an Expos cap."

http://bb_catchers.tripod.com/catchers/carter_hof_plaque.jpg

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http://i.cdn.turner.com/sivault/si_online/covers/images/1981/0817_large.jpg

RIP. Very sad to see him go so young.

What a shame indeed. Much to young to go. RIP..........

Very sad for me. Gary was my first favorite athlete. Still probably my favorite baseball player.