a memorial patch for gary carter

after gary carter passed away in february of 2012, the mets added a patch to their jerseys in his honor.  the plate shaped patch with his nickname (kid) and number 8 can be seen on kirk nieuwenhuis' 2012 bowman platinum card

sometimes, the patch was worn on the upper right chest, as seen on josh edgin's 2012 topps update card

and during the 2012 all-star game, the patch was worn by the met representatives on the upper left chest, as evidenced by david wright's 2012 topps update card

usually, however, it was on the right sleeve as demonstrated by the nieuwenhuis card up top, and by this 2013 topps archives johan santana card

which edged out the nieuwenhuis for a spot in the binder.

carter played only five seasons with the mets (1985-89), but he drove in over 100 runs twice in that time, and finished third in the mvp voting in 1986.  of course, carter's leadership of the club played a big role in their world championship that year, and he probably deserved the series mvp award more than ray knight.  it was carter who tied the score in game 6 with an rbi single, forcing extra innings, and it was carter who started the improbably rally in the 10th inning with a 2-out single.  he also drove in the tying run in game 7.  creach the hall of fame, but montreal had lost their franchise to washington dc, and the nationals did not wear a patch similar to the mets.

carter was diagnosed with brain tumors in 2011, and despite treatment, new tumors were found in 2012 shortly before his death. he was just 57 years old.  it is worth noting that carter's number had been retired by the expos following his retirement in 1993, and he was the first expo to reach the hall of fame, but montreal had lost their franchise to washington dc, and the nationals did not wear a patch similar to the mets.