Ducks' tribute to Gary Carter begins Friday
Ducks manager Gary Carter returns to the dugout after checking in on one of his players who was injured. (Sept. 27, 2009) Credit: Joseph D. Sullivan
Before tonight's home opener against the Camden (N.J.) Riversharks, the Long Island Ducks will say farewell to "The Kid."
Gary Carter, who died Feb. 16 after a 10-month battle with brain cancer, will be honored at Bethpage Ballpark with a moment of silence.
After a 19-year Hall of Fame career that included a World Series title in 1986 with the Mets, Carter's career brought him to Long Island, where he managed the Ducks during the 2009 season.
"In speaking to the Carter family, we've gotten their permission to dedicate this season to Gary, and we will also be wearing the '8' patch on our sleeve," Ducks Owner/CEO Frank Boulton said, referring to Carter's uniform number.
Manager Kevin Baez coached on Carter's staff in '09.
"I try to take a little bit from each manager that I played for, and Gary is right up there for what I look at and try to apply to my team," Baez said.
Baez and Carter first crossed paths at the annual Mets Fantasy Camp, where Baez has been an alumni instructor for the past seven years. Carter stopped by for the occasional guest appearance, often with former teammates Keith Hernandez and Darryl Strawberry in tow.
But the first time the two spoke in depth was Thanksgiving Day 2008, when Carter called Baez to welcome him aboard his coaching staff.
"I got off the phone and was like, 'Oh, I just talked to Hall-of-Famer Gary Carter,' " Baez said. "I got to know what a good person he was and had the opportunity to learn under him."
With Carter at the helm, and Baez serving a managerial apprenticeship of sorts, the Ducks won the Liberty Division's second-half title before losing to the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the playoffs.
Carter left Long Island after one season to take the managerial job at Palm Beach Atlantic University (Fla.), where his daughter, Kimmy Bloemers, is the softball coach.
Now in his second season managing the Ducks, Baez attempts to channel The Kid's ever-present optimism.
"You want to keep upbeat and positive," Baez said, "and that's one thing he did on a daily basis."
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