Keith Hernandez Reacts To Gary Carter's Passing

After he retired, Hernandez gave an interview to one of the men’s magazines — Playboy, September 1989 — and he talks about what it’s like to no longer player. Most guys would give you a cliche, but Hernandez talked about how he much he’d miss the clubhouse, the camaraderie, the feeling like you’re part of a family which few understand. I believed it then, but this is all the evidence anyone needs.

(If someone can get me that article, I’d really appreciate it.)

perfectly understandable.

That pair was a big part of the one of the happiest times in my life…championship baseball. This is a sad day.

It’s almost as if the Almighty should’ve struck down that bad boy team. But then he would have had to take out Carter, and he wouldn’t do that!

I have heard so many stories about what a genuinely good guy he was, and they are easy to believe.

and wish he didn’t have to express himself in such trying times on air. I’m pretty sure he didn’t have to but, I wish I could control myself from listening to Keith pouring his heart out about Carter. While I understand that giving into sadness to some is considered emasculating but in times like this Keith could be no lesser a man shedding his tears for his fallen brother.

RIP Gary.

You would think that nobody liked Gary Carter.

It was a relief to say that he was by all accounts something simple to describe and unfortunately easy to mock, probably because it’s so hard to achieve: a good man. Not because of what he’d done behind the plate or at bat, but because of how he’d lived his life and how he’d treated others.

Beautiful. I can’t help but be hopelessly sad. And I never saw him play.

but his impact on the franchise could hardly even be overstated. It’s important to remember that whence the pitching was given credit throughout the 1986 championship season, as well as other seasons for the franchise’s success, for as long as Gary Carter called the pitches behind the plate, he deserved about just as much credit as the pitchers (though some, like Doc were great in their own right). In addition, Carter was a formidable threat on the plate, just as he was behind it. I don’t know if it’s fair to say that in spite of his accomplishments, he was/is somewhat underrated.

It pains me somewhat to say it, but after 4.5 years of service, he hasn’t quite put in enough service time to have his number retired. But in any case, no Met should wear #8 for a while (if ever again), though given that it was last worn in 2002, this point is somewhat moot.

Sad news indeed.