3 former NY Mets players who went into the Hall of Fame wearing a rival’s cap

2) Gary Carter – Expos in 2003

It’s almost sickening to know Gary Carter had a career before coming to the Mets. Winning the 1986 World Series in New York almost has him feeling like nothing but a lifelong member of the Amazins. It couldn’t be less true. Carter spent his first 11 seasons with the Montreal Expos and would end up back there again to play his final season in 1992.

Carter’s time with the Mets was MVP worthy for the first two seasons and not so much for those final three years. Only 31 in 1985, the brutality of catching as often as he did caught up to the future Hall of Famer. While he still managed to hit with some power and drive in runs, the batting average and OBP continued to fall in those final years with the Mets. The Kid still led the Mets to a World Series victory. It’s all we ever wanted.

Carter was no longer the Gold Glove catcher he was with the Expos, but he was exactly what the Mets needed. He had as many 100+ RBI seasons in New York as he had in Montreal (2). His 32 home runs in 1985 were the most in his career.

It’s simply a matter of time spent in Montreal which had Carter going into Cooperstown in 2003 as a member of the Expos. By 2005, the Expos had moved to Washington to become the Nationals. The celebration of Carter’s career failed to get enough attention with the team moving to a city with no connection to him.