This came in as an email a few days ago but it took me a while to ask Patrick if he’d mind if I posted his email, and then I went skiing yesterday.
Shannon,
I’m a huge Mets’ fan and a frequent visitor to Metspolice.com. You actually just retweeted me this morning (@patricksesty).
Yesterday, the first baseball player I ever rooted for died. As horrible as this is to say, I’m more upset about Gary Carter’s passing than I am when some of my family members pass on. I grew up in Freehold, NJ and the Mets were my team from a very young age. When I was 7, there was a baseball card store in either Howell or Brick, I can’t remember. Every so often, they would have players in to sign autographs. When Gary Carter went, my parents made sure I was going to meet him since he was my guy. It was so long ago but I remember being very, very excited. After it was my turn to meet him, I froze. I think he noticed that and was extra nice to me. I got a ball and 8 x 10 signed, both of which I still have.
Fast forward eight years. My family moved down to South Florida. As you know, Gary and his family reside in Palm Beach Gardens. One night, we were out to eat at Olive Garden and Gary and his family are eating about two tables down from us. He was a huge celebrity at the restaurant that night, which kind of surprised me because I didn’t think that half those people would even know who Gary Carter was. The staff was telling every table that Gary Carter was eating there tonight, which struck me as odd. Usually, when an athlete or celebrity is out, they don’t like to be bothered – especially when they’re actually eating, let alone eating with their wife and children. People walked up to him all night, asking for autographs, photos or just to shake his hand. Never once did he turn anyone away.
I don’t now why I’m writing you this email. Maybe I just needed to say these things and figured you could appreciate it. Gary was always my mom’s favorite player because she thought he was so good looking. When she called me yesterday, I had to cut the conversation short because I thought I might start to cry a little on the phone – and I never cry. It’s because of Gary Carter that I love the Mets and baseball so much. A wonderful part of my childhood died yesterday.
We’re all a little worse off living in a world without Gary Carter. I guess heaven needed a catcher and who better to have behind the plate than Gary.
Thanks,
Patrick
P.S. I’ve attached some photos for you. Two are of me getting his
autograph (you can actually see my left arm in one of the pictures,
wearing my little Mets’ jersey and Mets’ hat, to the right of the
photo), one is of a Gary Carter picture that I’ve had since I was 5 or
6. It used to hang in my bedroom. When I moved to Arizona a few
years ago, I brought it with me and still have it hanging in my
bedroom out here. Finally, the last photo is of my autographed
picture he signed for me. The baseball is at my parents’ house in New
Jersey.
