Gary Carter Dies: Reactions from Former Teammates

Baseball Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter has died of brain cancer at the age of 57.

While he spent much of his career with the now-defunct Montreal Expos (a full 11 seasons north of the border), he was probably best-known as a member of the New York Mets, whom he led to the World Series title in 1986.

Some prominent members of that championship club have released statements in the wake of Carter's death.

Darryl Strawberry: What he added to the team was character. His approach to the game was contagious. It spread to the rest of us. He helped each of us understand what it took to win.

Dwight Gooden: I relied on Gary for everything when I was on the mound including location, what pitch to throw and when. Even when I didn't have my best stuff, he found a way to get me through the game. He was just a warrior on the field.

Frank Cashen (GM): The genesis of the trade was that we wanted to add a big bat to the lineup. He did that right away, but perhaps more importantly was the way he handled our young pitchers. He was the perfect fine young fellow for so many reasons.

Davey Johnson (manager): Gary was a one-man scouting system. What people didn't know was that he kept an individual book on every batter in the National League. He was the ideal catcher for our young pitching staff.

Wally Backman: He was like a big brother to me. I always went to him for advice. No matter what time of day it was, he always had time for you.

Bud Selig (commisioner of baseball): Driven by a remarkable enthusiasm for the game, Gary Carter became one of the elite catchers of all-time. The Kid was an 11-time All-Star and a durable, consistent slugger for the Montreal Expos and the New York Mets, and he ranks among the most beloved players in the history of both of those franchises. Like all baseball fans, I will always remember his leadership for the '86 Mets and his pivotal role in one of the greatest World Series ever played.