Mets to honor Carter April 5 before Braves game
The New York Mets will be honoring the memory and legacy of Hall of Fame Catcher Gary Carter.
Carter, who died Feb. 16 following a battle against brain cancer, will be honored April 5 at Citi Field during a pre-game ceremony before the season opener against the Atlanta Braves. Carter’s family — including wife, Sandy, son, D.J., and daughters, Kimmy and Christy — will be on the field during a moment of silence for their father and for the ceremonial first pitch.
“Our family is so honored to be part of the Mets’ Opening Day at Citi Field,” Sandy Carter said in a news release. “It will be an incredible experience for us to celebrate Gary’s legacy by having our family throw out the first pitch. The Mets and the fans of New York always had a special place in Gary’s heart and that admiration will live on in our hearts for years to come. Thanks to the Wilpon family and the entire Mets organization for making this possible.”
Nicknamed “The Kid,” Carter was an 11 time All-Star and a career .262 hitter who hit 324 home runs during his 19-year career that also included stints with the Montreal Expos, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers. But it was his exploits during the 1986 campaign that endeared him to a generation of Mets fans.
During Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, with the Mets down two runs in the bottom of the 10th inning, Carter started the rally that eventually ended in a Mets win following the infamous Bill Buckner error. The Mets won the series after a win in the seventh game.
Carter was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2003. He was inducted into the Mets’ Hall of Fame in 2001. To honor Carter and other Mets greats, visit the New York Mets’ Hall of Fame & Museum in Citi Field.
The 3,700 square-foot New York Mets’ Hall of Fame & Museum highlights the team’s five-decade history. Located next to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, the museum features a number of exhibits, photos and videos; it is open to fans with game tickets.
The Mets will also wear a patch during the 2012 season to honor Carter. The patch, which will first appear during a March 5 spring training game and will be worn on Mets’ jerseys for the 2012 season, features a black home plate with “KID 8″ in white lettering.
