Gary Carter, the Major League Hall of Fame Baseball player who was born and raised in Fullerton and honed his skills in Fullerton ballparks, was diagnosed with four brain tumors earlier on Saturday, as he revealed in a statement through the New York Mets."Earlier today, I learned that four very small tumors have been found on my brain, following an MRI on Friday at a West Palm Beach facility," Carter wrote. "I am scheduled to be examined further Thursday at Duke Medical Center, and we will learn more at that time about my diagnosis."
Carter will likely need to undergo surgery for the condition. The New York Daily News reported that Carter had been complaining of forgetfulness and headaches in recent days, which prompted a visit to doctors.
Carter, affectionately nicknamed "The Kid" because of his youthful enthusiasm for the game of baseball, grew up in Fullerton and played baseball at Nicolas Park (West Fullerton Little League), Amerige Park (Fullerton PONY Baseball) and for his alma mater Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton.
“Besides being an outstanding player, Gary Carter exemplifies the kind of person that parents hope their Little Leaguer can become,” said Stephen D. Keener, president and chief executive officer of Little League Baseball. “He truly is one of the good guys.”
Carter played for the West Fullerton (Calif.) Little League, mentored through his Little League years by his father, Jim Carter. Gary went on to become one of the game’s dominant players, and one of only four catchers with 2,000 hits, 1,000 runs, 1,000 RBIs and 300 homers. (The others are Hall of Famers Yogi Berra, Carlton Fisk and Johnny Bench.)
Gary and his father, James, were guests of Little League Baseball in Williamsport in 1985, when Mr. Carter received the Parents of the Year Award.
“My dad was my coach, but he was also my best friend while growing up,” Gary said in a story published in the 1985 Little League Baseball World Series program. “You see, my mom passed away when I was a kid playing Little League. Little League seemed to be the saving grace at the time. My dad and I became even closer after her passing and much of our time was spent on the Little League field.
In 1985, Gary’s parents were named Little League Parents of the Year, and in 1993, Gary was presented with the Bill Shea Distinguished Little League Graduate Award. He remains one of Little League’s greatest supporters.
A few years ago Gary returned to his hometown to manage the Fullerton Flyer Minor League baseball team. With his enthusiasm and his love of the game and city, he led the Flyers to a Golden League Championship in his very first year. It was around that time that officials with West Fullerton Little League approached Carter about renaming the Major Field after him. Carter declined but insisted the field be named after his father, James, who he credits with his success in baseball.
The longtime New York Met went into the Hall of Fame wearing a Montreal Expos hat, but is widely recalled for his time in New York, where he spent five of his 19 seasons, including a World Series title in 1986, his first year behind the dish for the Mets.
He also added 12 years with the Expos and one apiece with the Giants and Dodgers. All told, the backstop hit .262/.335/.439 with 2,092 hits and 324 home runs.
Carter is currently a manager for West Palm Beach in the New York Mets organization.
"My wife, Sandy, and our children and family thank you for your thoughts and prayers," Carter added. "We ask that you please respect our privacy as we learn more about my medical condition."
Evan Brunell from CBS.com and Allen Bacon, Bosco Fullerton contributed to this article
Hi I went to FUHS during the Carter years at SHHS and recall watching him play football and I think basketball. Later on moved to Montreal in 1989 and people were still talking about him even though the Expos had traded him before that.
ReplyDeleteI would say that the people here would disagree with your association of him mainly with the Mets, after all the Expos drafted him and Montreal is where he started his career.
Anyway, many in Montreal are rooting for him in his latest challenge and the press here is following his health problems closely.
Gary Carter will truly be missed by all, my claim to fame was to play Football and Baseball in So Cal with guys like Gary the Bretts, Bannisters and Younts. Orange County was a meeca for future stars, it always allowed me when I was coaching recreation league, High School or College teams to have good examples of men who had done well with hard work and desire and never to lose the love of the game. To the Carter family Gary is in a good place and left this world a better place.
ReplyDeleteJim Vaughn