"For Mets fans, Gary Carter was more than just a Hall of Fame catcher and slugger. He was a fan favorite - an on-the-field leader of a memorable championship team and an off-the-field philanthropist who gave back to the community, even long after his playing days ended. His clutch hitting ignited one of the most incandescent moments in New York sports history: the Mets' improbable come-from-behind, extra-innings victory in the sixth game of the 1986 World Series. When he went into the Hall of Fame in 2003, he said, 'I will always be a kid at heart.' And he was. As a ballplayer and later as an education philanthropist, Gary exemplified the never-give-up spirit of our city - a spirit that 'the Kid' gallantly showed right up to the end. It's why we'll always remember him."