Friday, June 24, 2011

Hey Mets, It's Time to Retire #8!

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-Digger's Daily-

The troubled New York Mets franchise can give themselves a boost by honoring one of their World Series Champion fan heroes. All Star catcher Gary Carter deserves his uniform #8 to be retired and put on display at CitiField.

New York displays just one retired player jersey, #41, Tom Seaver (managers Casey Stengel & Gil Hodges also retired). Can you believe it Mets fans? Ownership retiring only one uniform. No statues of former team members anywhere to be found at CitiField. It took a public outcry before management entertained the notion of placing "Mets" memorabilia in their new billion dollar ballpark (you can find Dodgers gracing the main entrance).

Guess what fans? Once again it's time to turn up the volume. A public outcry is necessary to nudge tumultuous team owners into paying respects for one of the Mets most popular members who was a major contributor of the 1986 World Championship squad. Gary Carter is a class act. Unfortunately, Carter's been recently diagnosed with multiple brain tumors. How about team ownership and fans showing respect to Carter when he's still alive. A "Gary Carter Day" should be arranged pronto!

Carter represents everything good in baseball and life. His energetic style of play rubbed off on teammates. He came to play hard everyday even when battling nagging bruises and injuries. Never a public spat with players, coaches or fans. Never a hint of infidelity, drugs, steroids, DUI or tirades against fans. He's been elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. So why no retired jersey Mr. Wilpon?

Wilpon is a Brooklyn Dodgers fan, NOT a Mets fan. Why did he bother buying the Mets? The Dodgers are gone and with a little luck so will Wilpon and Katz. They're an embarrassment to a proud franchise. Honor your team. Honor your fans. Can't fill the stands in 2011? Here's a sure fire way to fill seats with butts.... A fan appreciation Gary Carter Day Washington (formerly Carter's Montreal Expos) come to CitiField on Monday September 12th. Perfect team to host this day against. Invite as many former teammates from Montreal and New York as possible. The stadium will be packed. Ownership can look at this from a greed standpoint if it's all left driving them to remain team owners. They'll finally host a sellout! If time is of the essence regarding Gary's health then get it done sooner.

Carter deserves this honor. Not out of pity. Not one bit. Solely from his contributions to Mets baseball. Mets ownership has done very little to honor former players. Nearly every new park has statues of famous past players/managers. How about something for Casey, Seaver, Hodges, Carter, Keith Hernandez, Tug McGraw, Koos, Matlack, Piazza, Franco, Davy Johnson and the list goes on.

Here and now, it's time to do the right thing for at least one living legend. Retire Gary Carter's #8!

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