http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog/big_league_stew/post/Stunning-news-MRI-shows-tumors-on-Gary-Carter-?urn=mlb-wp7277

Sun May 22 03:37am EDT

Stunning news: MRI shows tumors on Gary Carter’s brain

By David Brown

Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter played 18 major league seasons while expressing joy and a positive attitude for baseball. That's why his nickname, "The Kid," was so appropriate.

The same kind of optimistic approach might serve him well during what must be the scariest time of his life.

After getting an MRI on Friday, Carter learned from doctors that he has four "very small" tumors on his brain. They don't know yet if the tumors are malignant; Carter will find out more Thursday, when specialists at Duke University Medical Center examine him.

The New York Daily News, which first reported the story, says the 57-year-old Carter "had been complaining of headaches and forgetfulness in recent days."

There's never a good time to hear news like this, but it's even tougher for baseball fans considering that Harmon Killebrew died this past week. Hopefully the update on Carter's condition will be encouraging. Lee Mazzilli, a former teammate with the New York Mets, obviously is concerned:

"You hope that it's not what you think it is," said Mazzilli, who works in corporate sales and sponsorships for the Yankees. "It breaks your heart. But I think if anyone has an optimistic outlook, he has one."

Other friends and former teammates were taken aback by the news as well.

What Mookie (pictured above, on the left) said. Carter released a statement saying he and his family thank folks for their thoughts and prayers. He also asked for privacy while they figure this out.

An 11-time All-Star who was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2003, Carter hit 324 home runs and has the fourth-highest career WAR among catchers. He probably is best known for being a leader on the 1986 Mets; Their famous rally against the Boston Red Sox in Game 6 of the World Series started with Carter's sharp two-out single in the bottom of the 10th inning.

During an Answer Man Q&A in August, Carter reminisced with The Stew about that magical Series:

"You know, I wasn't going to make the last out of the World Series. I had dreamed that dream so many times of setting the tone and imagining what it would be like to be there, and coming up there with the bases loaded and two outs and a two-strike count and coming through with a big hit. I lived the dream. As a kid, growing up, that's all I ever thought about — one day, being on that stage. It's such a fond memory and it's hard to believe that next year will be the 25-year anniversary of that World Series."

The Kid broke into the majors with the Montreal Expos and finished second in NL Rookie of the Year voting in 1975. Those very good Expos teams — with Tim Raines, Andre Dawson, Tim Wallach and others — never tasted the World Series. But Carter did hit two homers to lead the NL to victory at the 1981 All-Star Game, which restarted the season after a long players strike.

He joined the Mets, with the franchise on the rise, as a free agent in 1985. Carter played his last game in 1992 — going back to the Expos after brief stints with the Dodgers and Giants — and tried coaching and managing in the minor leagues with mixed results. He recently completed his second season as head coach at Palm Beach Atlantic University, where he seems content.

Carter has had a knack for bringing smiles to faces, and he's been a good ambassador for baseball. It's time to send him positive feelings in return.

I remember "The Kid" for his many years playing catcher for the Montreal Expos. In fact he is the only player ever to enter the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown as a Montreal Expo. Gary Carter gave Canadian baseball fans many great memories during his time as an Expo and I wish him well in his current health crises. I hope and pray that treatment will be successful and that he will recover.

His Christian witness has always been well-known in the sports world. He was very instrumental in Baseball Chapel as well, and I think he worked with them after he retired from playing ball:

http://www.baseballchapel.org/index.cfm?Fuseaction=PlayerTestimonies

"GARY CARTER - Catcher

Bats: R Throws: R Ht: 6' 2" Wt: 215
Born: April 8, 1954 in Culver City, CA
Major League Debut: September 17, 1974
Current Status: Retired (1974-1992)

The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God’s Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement of all. God offers each of us the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. When we accept God’s gift of salvation, our name is written in the Book of Life, guaranteeing us a place in heaven forever. I made that decision during spring training in 1973, asking Jesus to come into my heart as Lord and Savior. I first realized that when Jesus died on the cross, He died for me and paid for my sins. Accepting His payment on my behalf was all I needed to do since I couldn’t earn my way into heaven, no matter how good I tried to be. You can become a member of God’s Hall of Fame too, by making the decision I made back then—placing your trust in Jesus as your Savior. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.” (John 14:6)"

I am sure this is giving the Carter family the strength they need to get through this crisis.

His Christian witness has always been well-known in the sports world. He was very instrumental in Baseball Chapel as well, and I think he worked with them after he retired from playing ball:

http://www.baseballchapel.org/index.cfm?Fuseaction=PlayerTestimonies

"GARY CARTER - Catcher

Bats: R Throws: R Ht: 6' 2" Wt: 215
Born: April 8, 1954 in Culver City, CA
Major League Debut: September 17, 1974
Current Status: Retired (1974-1992)

The Baseball Hall of Fame is something every player dreams about, but being a member of God’s Hall of Fame is the greatest achievement of all. God offers each of us the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. When we accept God’s gift of salvation, our name is written in the Book of Life, guaranteeing us a place in heaven forever. I made that decision during spring training in 1973, asking Jesus to come into my heart as Lord and Savior. I first realized that when Jesus died on the cross, He died for me and paid for my sins. Accepting His payment on my behalf was all I needed to do since I couldn’t earn my way into heaven, no matter how good I tried to be. You can become a member of God’s Hall of Fame too, by making the decision I made back then—placing your trust in Jesus as your Savior. Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except by me.” (John 14:6)"

I am sure this is giving the Carter family the strength they need to get through this crisis.
God bless Gary for his testimony of faith! I'm sure his faith is a source of strength, hope, and peace at this difficult time for him and his family!

Yes!! Also interesting to note is that when Gary won the 1981 All-Star Game MVP, the game was played right here in Cleveland at old Munincipal Stadium!! :cool:

I remember "The Kid" for his many years playing catcher for the Montreal Expos. In fact he is the only player ever to enter the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown as a Montreal Expo....


Not quite true any more, Andre Dawson went in as an Expo, despite winning an MVP award with the Cubs.



...Gary Carter gave Canadian baseball fans many great memories during his time as an Expo and I wish him well in his current health crises. I hope and pray that treatment will be successful and that he will recover.

Amen, you've expressed the sentiments of a LOT of people.

Here's a play at the plate from the 1979 all star game (http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1.jsp?w_id=344784&w=/library/open/allstar/qa/79as_parker_carter_350.wmv&pid=false&cid=mlb&fid=350&v=2), very famous for an awesome throw from Dave Parker in RF, but on the 2nd replay you can see what a great play Carter made to make the tag.

I didn't realize "The Hawk" went into the Hall of Fame as an Expo. Thanks for the info.

I didn't realize "The Hawk" went into the Hall of Fame as an Expo. Thanks for the info.

You're welcome. There might have been just a little controversy about which cap Dawson's plaque would depict, but I think they did the right thing by inducting him as an Expo. He (along with Carter) really put the Expos on the map as legitimate contenders, and they were very close to making it to the World Series in 1981 (strike season), losing Game 5 of the (best of five) NLCS, 2-1 to the Dodgers, on a 9th inning, two out HR by Rick Monday.

Dawson played more than 1,400 games for the Expos and fewer than 900 for the Cubs.

Players do not get to decide which cap their plaque will display. The HOF will listen to their input, but the HOF makes the final decision, and decided to have Dawson join Carter as the only Expos (who will ever be) in the HOF. I don't know if Dawson wanted to go in as a Cub (since he won his MVP award there). Heck, it took him 9 ballots to get in there, so I'm sure he was just glad to make it one way or another.


Sometimes, as in the case of Catfish Hunter, the HOF will elect to induct a player and not indicate ANY team on that player's cap. Hunter's HOF plaque does not have a team logo on the cap. Hunter's wiki article says that Catfish himself refused to select a team (he starred for the A's and the Yankees, much longer with the A's), and the HOF put him in there without an team insignia. Hunter liked his experiences with both teams.