What was Gary Carter's Net Worth and Salary?
Gary Carter, a renowned American professional baseball player, had an impressive net worth of $8 million at the time of his passing in 2012. Born in Culver City, California, in April 1954, Carter succumbed to brain cancer on February 16, 2012, at the age of 57.
Throughout his career as a catcher, Carter batted and threw right-handed. He initially played as a quarterback in high school and committed to UCLA for football but was later drafted by the Montreal Expos in the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft.
Making his MLB debut in 1974 with the Expos, Carter played with Montreal until 1984. He then joined the New York Mets from 1985 to 1989, briefly played for the San Francisco Giants in 1990, and concluded his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1991 and the Expos in 1992. Notably, Carter became a World Series champion with the Mets in 1985, an 11-time All-Star, a three-time Gold Glove Award winner, and a five-time Silver Slugger Award recipient. His accolades also include being named the MLB All-Star Game MVP twice and the MLB All-Star Game MVP twice, and winning the Roberto Clemente Award in 1989 and the NL RBI championship in 1984. The Montreal Expos retired his #8, and he was inducted into both the New York Mets Hall of Fame and the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.
Salary and Career Earnings
Over his MLB career, Carter earned $13 million in salary, which is approximately double today's value after adjusting for inflation. His highest-earning season was 1989, with $2.2 million.
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Early Life
Gary Carter was born on April 8, 1954, to Jim and Inge Carter in Culver City, California. His father worked in the aircraft industry. Tragedy struck when his mother succumbed to leukemia a month after he turned 12. Carter excelled in both football and baseball at Sunny Hills High School in Fullerton and was recognized as the 1971 American Legion Graduate of the Year.
After high school, with over 100 athletic scholarship offers, Carter planned to play football at UCLA. However, he chose a baseball career after being drafted by the Montreal Expos in the third round of the 1972 MLB draft.
Career
Upon being drafted, Carter attended his first spring training in 1974. His exuberance earned him the nickname, "the Kid." The Expos converted him to a catcher in the minor leagues, where he excelled with 23 home runs and 83 RBIs for the Triple-A affiliate Memphis Blues. Carter made his MLB debut in Montreal's Jarry Park, finishing the season with a .407 batting average and achieving his first major league home run against the Philadelphia Phillies.
In his rookie 1975 season, Carter split between right field and catching, earning a spot on the National League All-Star team and the Sporting News Rookie of the Year Award. He was also voted the Expos' Player of the Year multiple times, demonstrating his versatility and skill. By 1980, Carter had secured the first of three Gold Glove Awards and his first All-Star Game MVP, further solidifying his reputation by hitting two home runs in the All-Star Game, a feat matched by only five other players.
Traded to the Mets in 1984, Carter's debut for New York in 1985 was memorable with a game-winning home run on Opening Day. The Mets' 1986 World Series victory saw Carter hitting two home runs in game four, highlighting his significant contributions. He remained with the Mets until 1989, then briefly played for the Giants, Dodgers, and returned to the Expos for his final season in 1992. His career included 11 All-Star selections, three Gold Gloves, and five Silver Slugger awards.
Post-retirement, Carter became a sports analyst for the Florida Marlins and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, the New York Mets Hall of Fame, and the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. As a coach, he managed several teams, including the Gulf Coast Mets, St. Lucie Mets, Orange County Flyers, Long Island Ducks, and the NCAA Division II Palm Beach Atlantic University Sailfish.
Personal Life and Death
Carter met his wife, Sandy, at Fullerton College. They married in 1975 and had three children. A committed philanthropist, Carter founded the Gary Carter Foundation, focusing on literacy and reading programs in Title I schools in Palm Beach County.
Diagnosed with four malignant brain tumors in May 2011, Carter's condition was revealed to be an aggressive, inoperable grade IV tumor. Despite his illness, he attended the opening day for his college baseball team. Carter passed away on February 16, 2012. Nine days later, the Mets honored him with a memorial patch on their uniforms for the entire 2012 season.
Real Estate
Gary Carter's 8,000-square-foot waterfront mansion in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, was listed by his heirs for $1.795 million in February 2016. It sold for $1.485 million in November 2016.
