Gary and Sandy Carter, a couple from California, had found their dream house in Montreal, where Gary had been playing baseball for the Expos for ten years and had made six consecutive All-Star appearances. However, the Expos approached Gary about a trade to the New York Mets, and the Mets were offering a significant deal to acquire him as the final piece to their championship puzzle. The Mets had a young rising star in Dwight Gooden, who had taken the baseball world by storm the previous year with his dominant pitching skills.
Dwight Gooden had impressed Gary Carter during an All-Star Game in which he struck out three batters with just 15 pitches. Carter was captivated by Gooden’s talent and knew that he wanted to be a part of that with the Mets. Carter’s wife, Sandy, recalls the moment when Gary expressed his excitement about catching Gooden’s pitches and his desire to be a part of the Mets. This marked the beginning of an incredible friendship between Gary Carter and Dwight Gooden, despite their differences in personality and lifestyle.
Years later, the Mets are retiring Gooden’s jersey number, honoring his impact on the team and the sport of baseball. Gooden became a New York icon, known for his dominance on the field and his larger-than-life persona off the field. Carter and Gooden developed a strong bond both on and off the field, with Carter offering support and encouragement to Gooden during his struggles with addiction. Their friendship only grew stronger as they faced their own challenges, with both men offering each other words of encouragement and hope during difficult times.
Despite Carter’s passing in 2012, his legacy lives on through his friendship with Gooden and the impact he had on the Mets organization. Sandy Carter reflects on the special bond that Gary and Dwight shared, emphasizing how much Gary admired and respected Gooden as a pitcher and as a person. Carter’s favorite memories in baseball involved catching Gooden’s pitches and witnessing his incredible talent on the field. Their friendship was built on mutual trust and support, with both men providing strength and encouragement to each other during their toughest moments.
The friendship between Gary Carter and Dwight Gooden transcended the boundaries of the baseball field, with Carter’s unwavering support helping Gooden navigate his struggles with addiction. Gooden’s admiration for Carter’s abilities as a catcher and his genuine personality solidified their bond as teammates and friends. Sandy Carter fondly remembers the love and respect that Gary and Dwight had for each other, highlighting the impact of their friendship on and off the field. As the Mets honor Gooden’s legacy, they also pay tribute to the enduring friendship between Carter and Gooden, a testament to the power of support, trust, and mutual respect in the world of sports.
