He Was Just a Kid

Throughout his career, Carter was a leader
in every sense of the word.

Less than a year after being diagnosed with brain cancer, Hall of Famer Gary Carter lost that battle Wednesday, passing away at age 57.

It was just last May Carter and his family received the shocking news that he had a malignant tumor in his brain. It was apparent the cancer was spreading and taking a tole on Carter's health, causing many to wonder how long he had left.

In January, Carter's condition took a turn for the worst, validating everyone's deepest concerns. The cancer had spread and saw several more tumors appear on his brain.

While we continue to mourn the loss of one of the greatest catchers in baseball history, it's time to celebrate the life of not only a Hall of Famer player, but a Hall of Fame person.

Carter was drafted by the Montreal Expos in 1972. He made his Major League debut just two years later, becoming arguably the greatest player in franchise history. In his first full season with the Expos, Carter hit .270 and slugged 17 home runs. He was named to his first of 11 All-Star Games and finished second in the National League Rookie of the Year voting.

1984 would become Carter's best offensive season, posting career-highs in plate appearances (669), at-bats (596), hits (175), batting average (.294) and runs batted in (106). Not to mention his 106 RBIs led the NL.

That December, with Montreal preparing to rebuild, Carter was traded to the New York Mets in exchange for four young prospects.

It was the move that saved the Mets franchise and brought them their second and most recent World Series title.

A team already armed with the power-hitting Darryl Strawberry, electric Dwight Gooden and slick-fielding Keith Hernandez, Carter was brought in to be the savior. And he was just that. On Opening Day 1985, in his first game as a Met, Carter justified the 4-for-1 trade with a walk-off home run in the 10th inning, receiving his first taste of the New York spotlight.

In a town where many crumble, Carter embraced the challenge, flourishing under pressure and captivating Shea Stadium. That was never more apparent in the postseason.

Playing in 30 career playoff games, Carter owned a .280 career average with four home runs and driving in 21 runs. He had 33 career hits in the postseason, but none bigger than four of the 12 hits he had in the 1986 postseason.

In Game 5 of the NLCS, Carter, who was batting a dismal .047 prior to the at-bat, laced a game-winning, walk-off single in the 12th inning, giving New York a 3-2 series advantage -- a series the Mets clinched the following night in 16 innings.

Reaching the World Series for the first time in his career, Carter hit two home runs over the Green Monster in Game 4 of the Fall Classic, becoming the only player in history to homer twice in a All-Star and World Series game.

But it's his 10th inning single in Game 6 that will forever live in New York lore.

With two out and nobody one, Carter, with his tenacious personality, refused to be the final out of the series, orchestrating the most improbable and greatest rally in postseason history. The veteran catcher lashed a base hit into left field and three batters later, Mookie Wilson would hit his infamous ground ball that some how trickled under the glove of Bill Buckner, forcing a decisive seventh game.

Carter and Co. would reach the pinnacle of the sports world two nights later.

If Hernandez was the team's captain, then Carter was his first mate.

Carter would spend three more season with the Mets, but was released in 1989 and bounced around the NL his final three seasons, spending a year each with the Giants and Dodgers before returning to where it all began.

However, Carter managed to bring a crowd to their feet one last time.

In his final Major League at-bat, Carter lined an opposite field, RBI double over Andre Dawson's head, giving the Expos an eventually 1-0 win over the Chicago Cubs on Sept. 27, 1992. He played in just 95 games that year, batting .218 and retired at season's end.

He finished his career with a .262 average, 324 HRs and 1225 RBIs. Carter is one of only five players to play at least 50 percent of his games as a catcher and record 275 HRs, 350 doubles, 1,000 RBIs and 1,500 hits while doing so, joining the recently retired Jorge Posada, Ivan Rodriguez and fellow Hall of Famers, Johnny Bench and Carlton Fisk.

Even in the biggest fight of his life, Carter
never lost the smile that inspired us all.

Carter totaled four 100 RBI seasons as a catcher, including three straight from 1984-86, tying him with Bill Dickey for the third most all-time. He won five Silver Sluggers in his career and finished as high as second in the NL Most Valuable Player voting, that coming in 1980.

That same season Carter would win his first of three consecutive Gold Gloves, showing he was just as good behind the plate. Possessed with one of the strongest throwing arms in baseball history, nobody ran on Carter.

He is one of five catchers to catch more than 2,000 games in his career, catching the fourth most in history and an NL record 2,056 games. According to ESPN's Tim Kurkjian, along with three other catchers, Carter holds the Major League record for being behind the plate in 90 percent of his team's games in five different seasons.

Also one of game's greatest game callers, it wasn't a coincidence Gooden's best season came in Carter's first year as his battery mate. Gooden posted career bests in wins (24) earned run average (1.53), complete games (16) and innings (276.2), capturing his only NL Cy Young.

Carter was named the All-Star Game MVP two times in his career (1981, '84) and was the recipient of the '89 Roberto Clemente Award.

In 2003, after a baffling five-year wait, Carter was inducted into Baseball's Hall of Fame in his sixth year on the ballot, receiving 78.02 percent of the vote. That same season his No. 8 would be retired by Montreal -- the team and cap he would go into Cooperstown wearing.

But it was his infectious smile and enthusiasm, passion and love for the game that earned him the nickname the 'Kid' over his 19-year career and the rest of his life.

Carter, who was the head coach of Palm Beach Atlantic baseball team, made his final public appearance on Feb. 2 in his team's first game of the 2012 season. Honoring Carter the only way they knew how, the Sailfish won on a walk-off base hit by senior Travis Murray.

Murray's position? Yep, you guessed it. Catcher.

Carter wasn't only the savior the Mets needed, but the one baseball needed as well.

Fresh Prince Of Detroit

Fielder now makes not only the
transition to a new team, but
a new league.

In light of the recent injury to Victor Martinez, the Detroit Tigers have agreed to a deal that will being free agent first baseman Prince Fielder to the Motor City.

Even though Fielder would not want this to be said, he is following in his father's footsteps. After spending the first five years of his career playing for the Toronto Blue Jays and a Japanese team, the Hanshin Tigers, Cecil Fielder also was catered by the Tigers, signing a five-year $36 million contract prior to the 1990 season.

Fielder's contract is said to be worth $214 million over a nine-year period and while that is not quiet the money fellow first baseman Albert Pujols received from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, it could prove to be a better investment for this storied franchise.

Fielder, 27, will be 36 when his newly agreed upon contract expires. On the other hand, Pujols, who signed a 10-year $254 million deal in early December, is currently 32 years of age and will be 42 at contract's end.

A three-time All-Star and two-time Silver Slugger, Fielder made $15.5 million a year ago, that includes a $50,000 bonus for receiving the nod to start at first base for the National League in the All-Star Game at Arizona, something that could prove to be a challenge for him in the American League.

With Pujols and now, Fielder's addition to the the AL, there is a plethora of All-Star caliber first baseman to compete with. They join Miguel Cabrera, who is Fielder's newest teammate, Mark Teixeira, Justin Morneau and last year's starting first baseman, Adrian Gonzalez.

In his first ever start in the Midsummer Classic, Fielder was named the 2011 All-Star Game MVP, thanks in large part to his go-ahead three-run home run in the fourth inning off C.J. Wilson. His home run was the main component in helping the NL win back-to-back All-Star games for the first time since they won three straight from 1994-96.

As for his career, Fielder was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the first-round of 2002 amateur player draft and where he has spent the last seven seasons paired up with 2011 NL MVP, Ryan Braun.

Fielder made his Major League debut in 2005 and from then now, he has been a prolific run producer in Major League Baseball. The 5-foot-11, 275-pounder owns a .282 career average over his first seven seasons, including 230 home runs and 636 runs batted in.

He has driven in 100-plus runs four times in his young career and has proven to be one of the most durable players in the league. Since becoming a full-time starter in 2006, Fielder has played in at least 157 games, including playing in all 162 games in 2009 and this past season.

Finishing third in the NL MVP voting this season, it's the third time Fielder has finished in the top five in the last five years. Fielder tied a career-high, batting .299, while adding 38 HRs and 107 RBIs.

He finished with a .415 on-base percentage, due in large part to his high walk total. Fielder drew 107 base-on-balls, including 32 of those coming intentional to lead the majors.

It's not the first time Fielder has led the league in major offensive categories. In 2007, he hit a career-high 50 HRs, which led the NL. In '09 and 2010, he led the majors in RBIs (141) and BBs (114), respectively.

As for the team he joins, Detroit adds one of the most premier sluggers in the game and fill a void they didn't think they would be without. Just a week ago, Martinez, who signed a four-year $50 million deal last winter, suffered a torn ACL during his offseason workouts and will most likely end his entire 2012 season before if even got started.

While Fielder looks to be the Tigers response to the injury, it poses an interesting situation for general manager Dave Dombrowski and skipper Jim Leyland.

Detroit already has a franchise first baseman in Cabrera, who has proven to be not only more than a serviceable asset, but one of the game's most feared hitters. Cabrera, 28, just like Fielder, is much too young to take on a full-time designated hitter role.

Fielder's father, Cecil, also signed as a
free agent to join the Tigers.

One logical solution seems to be that Cabrera could move back across the diamond to the hot corner. Cabrera played third base regularly during his days with the formerly known Florida Marlins before making the transition to first in 2008, his first year with the Tigers.

He has played 383 of his 1,351 career games at third, but then again, there is a reason why a change was made.

In any event, it's a problem that Leyland won't soon complain about.

In the end, Fielder along with agent Scott Boras waited patiently and eventually got exactly what they wanted, something Boras and his clients are no stranger to.

The Closing of a Story Book Career

Selanne always possessed the heart

of a champion.

The Anaheim Ducks are coming off a disappointing loss Friday night at home, dropping Game 5 of their first-round series to the Nashville Predators.

The Ducks find themselves on the brick of elimination, but longtime right wing and future Hall of Famer, Teemu Selanne seems timeless. Selanne is enjoying one of the greatest postseasons in his glorious career.

Now, at the age of 40, Selanne had one of his most productive seasons in the last five years of his career.

Selanne recorded 31 goals and 49 assists during the regular season, accumulating to 80 points for the Ducks. He helped lead the Ducks to the fourth seed in the Western Conference with a record of 47-30.

Anaheim was able to win seven of their last 10 regular season games to land such good postseason position. With the Ducks facing a 3-2 series deficit, Selanne has done his best to keep Anaheim afloat.

Selanne has recorded a point in all five of the Ducks playoffs games this season and scored a goal in four of them.

In games one and two, Selanne scored a goal in each of them, as the Ducks spilt the first two games at home with the Predators. Then, in Game 3, Selanne scored two goals in a 30-second window in the second period of a 4-3 loss in Nashville.

In Game 4, Selanne would find the back of the net yet again, becoming only the third player in NHL postseason history to score five goals at age 40 or older in a single postseason. The last player to do so was Boston Bruin Mark Recchi, who did it in last year's postseason, lighting the lamp six times.

Even though Selanne did not score Saturday night in Anaheim, he did record a point via the assist. At the 14:16 mark of the third period, Selanne assisted teammate Jason Blake's second goal of the series, giving the Ducks a temporary 3-2 lead. The Ducks would go on to lose the game in overtime and find themselves in the predicament they are in now.

With Anaheim's season hanging in the balance, so does the fate of Selanne's career, who has hinted he may retire at season's end, no matter the result.

Selanne is a former first-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets back in 1988 and experienced so many wonderful feats in what will be an eventual Hall of Fame career.

During his 1992-93 rookie season, Selanne set the NHL rookie record for goals and points scored in a single season with 76 goals and 132 total points. The 10-time All-Star was the first European to be named the NHL All-Star Game MVP after recording a hat trick in 1998.

Selanne would go on to lead the NHL in goals that season as he did two other times in his career. He became only the second Duck in franchise history to be named a finalist for the Hart Trophy in 1997-98, following the lead of teammate Paul Kariya, who was named a finalist the year before.

After being traded to the San Jose Sharks in March of 2001 and then playing a one season for the Colorado Avalanche, Selanne would return to Anaheim for the 2005-06 season in grand fashion.

In a 2006 game against the Avalanche, he would score the 500th goal of his career against his former team. In 2007, Selanne would spark a deep playoff run for Anaheim, bringing home their first Stanley Cup in franchise history after dismantling the Ottawa Senators in five games.

Most recently on March 21, 2011, Selanne became the 18th member in NHL history to join the 600 goal club by scoring, once again, in a game against Colorado.

Whether or not Sunday night in Nashville is the final game of a illustrious 20-year career, many have had the privilege to watch a hockey legend and a true Mighty Duck.

An Angel that Earned His Wings

Anderson receives a curtain call
during his 10 RBI night.

Former Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim outfielder Garret Anderson has decided to call it a career. The announcement was made official on Tuesday morning.

Anderson played 17 seasons in the big leagues with three different teams, including the Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers the last two seasons. Although, Anderson will always be known for his 15 fabulous years in Anaheim.

Anderson, a native of Los Angeles was drafted in the fourth round of the 1990 amateur draft out of Kennedy High School. Little did we know that he would become an immortal angel.

In his 15 seasons as a member of the Angels, Anderson became the franchise all-time leader in games played (2,013), hits (2,368), doubles (489), runs (1024), extra-base hits (796), total bases (3,743) and runs batted in (1,292). Some consider Anderson the greatest player in franchise history and there is no argument here.

During his tenure, the Angels made six playoff appearances with five of them coming as American League Western Division champions. They made two ALCS appearances winning one of them in 2002, heading to their first World Series in franchise history.

That season the Angels made the postseason by winning the AL Wild Card and eventually defeating the San Francisco Giants in an epic seven-game series with the help of Anderson's bases-clearing double to seal the victory in the decisive seventh game.

Anderson was a player that flew under the radar most of his career, which is just the way he would have wanted it, but was quietly a one of the best hitters in Major League Baseball.

From 1996-06 only two players had more hits than Anderson's 1,956 throughout that time period, Derek Jeter (2,138) and Alex Rodriguez (2,023). Anderson stole the show at the at the 2003 Midsummer Classic winning the Home Run Derby and the All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award. In August of 2007, Anderson made the New York Yankees pitching staff his personal batting practice session, going 4-for-6, driving in 10 runs. The last four came on a grand slam he hit off of left-handed reliever Sean Henn to cap his amazing night.

Anderson was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on Aug. 8 of last year after only batting .181 in a pinch-hitting role. That would be the last time we would see Anderson in a Major League uniform.

Anderson's No. 16 will soon be in the right field bleachers in Anaheim, never to be worn again and just maybe one day Anderson will reach the pearly gates of baseball heaven, Cooperstown.

The Bite of the Black Mamba

Bryant took home his 4th All-Star Game
MVP Sunday night.

Does anyone still think Kobe Bryant has nothing left in the tank?

In his 15th season in the NBA and now at the age of 32, Bryant started to hear the whispers he might have lost a step. That was not the case on Sunday night at Staples Center, when he went off for 37 points and 14 rebounds. Not to mention the amazing two-handed slam that electrified the Los Angeles crowd early.

Bryant came out on a mission, to steal the show and come away with his fourth All-Star Game Most Valuable Player Award.

He did just that, tying Bob Pettit for the most all-time.

Bryant, who is coming his second knee surgery of his career, has played significantly less minutes this season compared to the last couple of years. It seems as it he is pacing himself for a deep playoff run and getting the Los Angeles Lakers to their fourth consecutive NBA Finals.

Bryant has always loved playing on the game's biggest stage and tends to elevate his game when need be. You can be sure that will be the case come playoff time in the City of Angels, Sunday night is living proof. Bryant's star was not to be out shined by anyone that night.

There is no questioning the thirteen-time All-Star's motivation and sometimes it's believed that is ego even has a work ethic. So for those who said the 2007-08 MVP has lost a step, go back and look at the film from Sunday's All-Star Game.

Bryant rose to another level when the spotlight was shining brightest on his city and showed why he is still the best player in the NBA. Expect that not change, even more so come June.

Young a Class Act

Young talking to the media at Ranger camp
in Surprise, Arizona.

Michael Young has been through every high and low in his 11 seasons as a Texas Ranger, while being the face of the franchise during that time.

Only a year after their first World Series appearance in franchise history, Young supposedly wants out of the only team he has ever known.

With the offseason acquisitions of Adrian Beltre, Mike Napoli and the emergence of Mitch Moreland in the postseason last year, it makes Young wonder where he is going to get his at-bats.

Young was asked to move from his original position at second base to shortstop in 2004 when they traded their superstar shortstop Alex Rodriguez to the New York Yankees in exchange for Alfonso Soriano. After becoming a Gold Glove shortstop in 2008, the Rangers asked Young to moved positions again, this time to third base.

In 2009, Young willing did so without a peep, making room for highly regarded prospect, Elvis Andrus. It was a formula for success with the Rangers reaching the playoffs in 2010 for the first time since 1999, after being a laughing stock much of the decade.

Young would be asked one last time to move positions with the signing of Beltre, he would no longer play the field, but be the designated hitter in Arlington.

Then the final straw had been drawn. Texas traded for Napoli, cutting into Young's at-bats. Now the face of the franchise of the past decade and the man that was willing to do what was best for the team has had it and wants out. At the age of  34, the Rangers may be thinking Young is on the backend of his career.

Young's career has been extremely under appreciated by most Ranger and baseball fans. Young silently had five straight 200-hit seasons, 2003-07, while winning a batting title in 2005 at a .331 mark. He also won the 2006 All-Star Game MVP and responsible for driving in the winning run in '08 at Yankee Stadium with a sac fly to center field.

All that being said, Young has flown under the radar much of his career to the average baseball fan, which is just the way he would want it.

The Rangers are replacing Young at third base with a .275 career hitter and his two best seasons have come conveniently in contract years. Beltre has been a quality player during his Major League career, but his work ethic and dedication to the game has been in question for sometime, especially after signing that five-year contract with the Seattle Mariners prior to the '05 season.

Now, when the Rangers have finally reached the mountain top and have become a significant World Series contender, they seem to be pushing out the face of the franchise of the past decade and someone who went through all the hardships of being on a bad team much of his career.

Yet, Young reported to camp this week, saying he will not be a distraction and is focused on the season ahead with this club. Would we expect any different from the six-time All-Star, who is the definition of a consummate professional.

If Young wants out of Texas, he has earned that right, but one thing is for sure when he steps between those white lines it will be business as usual, no matter what uniform he is wearing.

Mr. Young you are truly a class act.