I was saddened to hear of the passing of baseball great, Gary Carter. Three weeks ago I posted that the Hall of Fame catcher was one of my first baseball idols.

Michael Baron of MetsBlog shares a memory of meeting his childhood idol in Carter’s final season with the Expos.

”Carter was my childhood hero – the ballplayer I looked up to as a kid and made me want to play. I remember wanting to be him; my dad had a jersey made for me with his name and number screened on it, and I wore that jersey everyday to school during the playoffs and World Series in 1986. I even wanted curly hair like Carter had. Unfortunately, my hair is straight. And as stupid as it may sound, I would take my book bag and pretend it was a chest protector, and wear two mesh hats – one as a hat on backwards and the other as a catchers mask over my face.

It may have been stupid, but Carter was my hero, and I think many of us always pretend to be and fantasize about our heroes and their moments of glory, as much as we don’t always admit it.

I didn’t get to meet Carter while he was with the Mets. I met him in 1992 when he was with the Expos for his 19th and final season in Major League Baseball. I don’t remember the conversation I had with him; I just remember looking at him as he was speaking with me and being absolutely floored by the moment. How many people get to meet and speak with their ultimate hero? I guess I’m luckier than I think I am. I walked away with an autographed ticket, and a memory I will cherish forever.

I’m especially saddened by the news of his passing and that he had to suffer the way he did. Your heroes aren’t supposed to suffer and they’re not supposed to die, right? After all, that’s why they’re heroes. I will always have 1986, 1992, and my front yard…

Way back when I was a kid Gary Carter was one of my first baseball idols. From what I recall, Carter wasn’t the most talented, wasn’t the fastest, wasn’t the strongest, or the flashiest. Carter was all about hustle and determination.

Former Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez on Gary Carter:

“He was a human backstop back there. Early, before his knees went bad, you couldn’t steal on him in Montreal. When he wasn’t able to throw because of his knees, that never affected his performance. He was running on and off the field after three outs. This guy played in some pain and it was hustle, hustle, hustle.”

photo: SI Vault

bluecatsredsox:

Joe Petruccio is giving away a signed print of the original drawing he did for the racing stripe uniform design the Mets wore in 1983.  It’s seriously gorgeous. Give it a look.

Mooooo-kie! Mooooo-kie! Mooooo-kie!

Aren’t Met fans a creative bunch. Also shout out to this guy who appears to have a carabiner beverage holder attached to his belt loop. Nice touch.

(Source: sportsnetnewyork)

“Oh, for God’s sake - the Mets are even last in the Arab League???!!!”

- JON STEWART, The Daily Show

via inothernews