Mets To Host Gary Carter Tribute Night on July 26

Port St. Lucie, Fla. - The St. Lucie Mets have announced they will honor the memory of former St. Lucie Mets manager and Hall of Famer Gary Carter on Thursday, July 26 as they host Gary Carter Tribute Night at Digital Domain Park. The Mets play the Lakeland Flying Tigers at 6:30 p.m.

Pre-game ceremonies are expected to begin at 6:15 p.m. Carter's wife Sandy, daughter Christy, and grandson Brady will all be in attendance. Sandy and Christy will both throw out the game's ceremonial first pitch and they will be escorted to the field by former Mets All-Star Howard Johnson. Carter and Johnson were teammates when the Mets won the World Series in 1986.

Merchandise items will also be available during the game with a portion of the proceeds going to the Gary Carter Foundation. Select lineup cards autographed by Carter from the 2006 Florida State league season will be on sale. The Mets will also have a commemorative Gary Carter t-shirt available for purchase.

Carter died on February 16, 2012 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. He was 57 years old.

In 2006, Carter served as manager of the St. Lucie Mets and guided them to the Florida State League Championship. He was also named Florida State League Manager of the Year.

Carter played in the major leagues from 1974-1992 with the Montreal Expos, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants, and Los Angeles Dodgers. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.

Carter was an integral member of the New York Mets World Series Championship team in 1986.

The Mets added a memorial patch to their uniforms for the 2012 season in honor of Carter. The patch has the number 8 and "Kid" inscribed on it.

For more information, contact the Mets Executive Offices at 772-871-2100.