There’s no question about it: the 1980s was a booming time for New York City and the New York Mets. Every Mets fan looks back on that era as the golden age of Mets baseball, and for good reason. From 1984-1989, the Mets won 575 games and made the playoffs twice in 1986, where they won the World Series, and 1988. However, don’t let two playoff appearances deceive you for how good they were. If the Wild Card existed, the Mets would’ve made the playoffs in 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1989. They were that good.
Lately, Mets owner Steve Cohen has made it a point to honor the 1980s Mets clubs. He started by retiring Keith Hernandez’s number last year. On Thursday, he announced that Dwight Gooden and Darryl Strawberry will get their numbers retired next year. Now, there is only one player left from that era who should get that honor bestowed on them, catcher Gary Carter.
Time For The Mets To Retire Gary Carter’s #8
Carter Was The Last Piece Of The Puzzle
Gary Carter’s Hall of Fame resume is filled with Montreal Expos accolades. However, his time with the Mets is probably the most remembered. After the 1984 season, where New York won 90 games, and Gooden emerged as a star, the Mets knew they needed one more piece to a championship puzzle. On December 10th, 1984, Mets general manager Frank Cashen swung a trade with Montreal to acquire Carter. It was a deal that paid off and is one of the best trades in Mets history. On Opening Day in 1985, Carter would introduce himself to the Shea Stadium faithful in dramatic fashion.
4/9/1985 In his first game as a Met, Gary Carter hits a walk-off home run to give New York a 6-5 win over the Cardinals at Shea. pic.twitter.com/GBW29hjK7K
— This Day in Mets History (@NYMhistory) April 9, 2022
Carter hit 32 home runs and drove in 100 RBI in his first year as a Met and making the All-Star team. New York won 98 games in 1985 but fell three games short of the division title. 1986 looked to be the pivotal year for the Mets to take the next step and win it all. Carter would play a huge role.
Carter Comes Up Clutch
1986 is the greatest and most well remembered season in Mets history, and it would be here where Carter cemented his status as a Mets icon. Carter did his thing to contribute to the Mets winning 108 games and the division title by slugging 24 home runs and 105 RBI. However, it was the playoffs where Carter came up big, but it didn’t start out that way. In the NLCS against the Houston Astros, Carter struggled severely, with just one hit through the first four games. Game 5 at Shea went to extra innings and Houston intentionally walked Hernandez to get to the struggling Carter. Carter made the Astros pay and gave the Mets a 3-2 series lead going back to Houston.
10/14/1986 Gary Carter hits a walk-off single in the 12th inning to put the Mets one win away from securing the National League pennant. pic.twitter.com/x8PQLq71L0
— This Day in Mets History (@NYMhistory) October 14, 2020
Next up the World Series against the Boston Red Sox which saw the Mets go down 2-0 in the series. In Game 3 at Fenway Park, Carter contributed with a 3 RBI night as the Mets won 7-1. Carter would hit two home runs in Game 4 to help the Mets even the series.
October 22, 1986: Gary Carter hits two HRs to lead the @Mets to a 6-2 win over @RedSox in Game 4 of the World Series. #MetsRewind #LGM pic.twitter.com/AzIKy6QxEi
— MetsRewind (@metsrewind) October 22, 2022
After the Red Sox took Game 5 to send the series back to Queens for Game 6, Carter would kickstart the most unforgettable rally in Mets history. After Carter hit a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 8th to tie the game, the Red Sox retook the lead in the 10th. Carter would hit a single with the Red Sox one out away from their first World Series title since 1918. The rest is history. Kevin Mitchell singled. Ray Knight singled, scoring Carter and moving Mitchell to third. A wild pitch to Mookie Wilson tying the game. This was followed by a ground ball that got by Bill Buckner to win it.
Carter’s Later Years & 300th Home Run
New York would win Game 7 to capture their second title. Carter was big-time, batting .276 with two home runs and driving in 9 RBI. He made a case to be World Series MVP, but the award was given to Knight. After 12 years, Carter finally got his World Series ring. As New York tried to repeat in 1987, Carter would make another All-Star team and hit 20 home runs. 1988 saw a down year and a long homerless streak. Worse off, that home run he was searching for was his 300th. Finally, on August 11 in Chicago, Carter reached the milestone.
Gary Carter hit his 300th home run #OTD in 1988.
— Mathew Brownstein (@MBrownstein89) August 11, 2022
Carter became the 59th player to hit 300 home runs, and just the fourth catcher to do so.@Metsmerized #Mets #LGM pic.twitter.com/tAxOFKztlF
By 1989, injuries and age had finally caught up to Carter, limiting him to 50 games. The Mets let him go after the season, but not before he would take one final swing at Shea Stadium in the home finale. Roping a double down the left field line.
Gary Carter always knew how to deliver in a big moment. In his last at-bat with the #Mets at Shea Stadium on 9/27/1989, he roped this double. #LGM (via MLB) pic.twitter.com/VXtyC787mx
— Matt Musico (@mmusico8) November 4, 2022
Long Past Due To Retire Carter’s #8
Carter entered the Hall of Fame in 2003 as an Expo and as one the greatest catchers of all time. Despite his many years in Montreal, his time in New York held a special place in his heart. Mets fans have a special place in their hearts for him, too. Carter preferred to go into Cooperstown as a Met. Carter retired from the game in 1992 and sadly passed away from brain cancer in 2012. His jersey number should’ve been retired at Shea Stadium years ago, and the same was said for players like Hernandez, Strawberry, and Gooden. Now, it’s time for the Mets to do the right thing and have #8 in the rafters at Citi Field beside his World Champion teammates.
Main Photo Credits: Frank Becerra Jr/USA TODAY / USA TODAY NETWORK
