Gary Carter, Hall of Fame catcher, dies

NEW YORK, Feb. 16 (UPI) -- Gary Carter, who played 19 seasons in the major leagues in a Hall of Fame career as a catcher, has died, his family said. He was 57.

The cause of death wasn't released, but Carter was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer last May. The family said Carter died Thursday afternoon.

Carter, nicknamed "Kid," played 2,296 games over 19 seasons in the major leagues. He hit .262 with 324 home runs and 1,225 runs batted in. He was an 11-time all-star, including in 1975 and every season from 1979-88, and was awarded three Gold Gloves.

He played his first 11 seasons with the Montreal Expos but also spent five years with the New York Mets, one season with the San Francisco Giants and another with the Los Angeles Dodgers before ending his career in 1992 with the Expos.

Carter was with the Mets when they won the World Series in 1986. He hit .276 with two home runs and nine RBI as the Mets beat the Boston Red Sox.

He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.

"Driven by a remarkable enthusiasm for the game, Gary Carter became one of the elite catchers of all-time," Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig said in a statement. " … Like all baseball fans, I will always remember his leadership for the '86 Mets and his pivotal role in one of the greatest World Series ever played."

Carter was born April 8, 1954, in Culver City, Calif. He was drafted by the Montreal Expos as a shortstop in 1972 out of high school. He had his major league debut two years later at age 20.

The Baseball Writers Association of America New York Chapter in January presented Carter with its Milton and Arthur Richman "You Gotta Have Heart" award. His three children accepted the award for Carter. Milton Richman was a longtime sports editor at United Press international.