Mets Must Retire Gary Carter's No. 8 to Honor His Legacy

The 1986 World Series champion deserves to have his number retired by the Mets, more so than recent honorees.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 9:21pm

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The New York Mets should retire the number 8 jersey worn by Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter, who played a crucial role in the team's 1986 World Series championship. Carter's impact on the franchise went beyond just his impressive stats, as he was a beloved leader and embodiment of the Mets' scrappy, optimistic spirit during that championship season.

Why it matters

Retiring Carter's number 8 would cement his legacy as one of the most important players in Mets history, even though he only spent five seasons with the team. His leadership and passion were instrumental in the Mets' 1986 title, and honoring him would recognize his outsized influence on the franchise compared to more recent players whose numbers have been retired.

The details

Carter was traded to the Mets in 1984 and immediately made an impact, hitting 32 home runs and driving in 100 runs in 1985. The following year, he hit 24 homers and had 102 RBIs as the Mets won the World Series. His two-out single in the bottom of the 10th inning of Game 6 helped the Mets complete their comeback against the Boston Red Sox. While his production declined in his final years with the team, Carter's leadership and defensive skills were invaluable to the championship squad.

  • The Mets are set to retire Carlos Beltran's number 15 in the near future.
  • Carter passed away in 2012 after a battle with brain cancer.
  • The Mets are celebrating the 40th anniversary of their 1986 World Series triumph this year.

The players

Gary Carter

A Hall of Fame catcher who played for the Mets from 1985 to 1989, helping lead the team to a World Series championship in 1986.

Carlos Beltran

A former Mets outfielder who is set to have his number 15 retired by the team, despite Carter's number 8 not yet being retired.

Keith Hernandez

A former Mets first baseman and teammate of Carter's, who praised the catcher's defensive skills and determination to play through pain.

Darryl Strawberry

A former Mets outfielder and teammate of Carter's, who credited the catcher's stabilizing presence in the clubhouse as key to the team's 1986 championship.

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What they’re saying

“He was a human backstop back there. Early, before his knees went bad, you couldn't steal on him in Montreal. When he wasn't able to throw because of his knees, that never affected his performance. He was running on and off the field after three outs. This guy played in some pain and it was hustle, hustle, hustle.”

— Keith Hernandez, Former Mets Teammate

“The character he displayed in the clubhouse represented us more than anything. When you looked at the bunch we had, a lot of us were young, wild and crazy. The Kid was the most stable one in the clubhouse. It's a very sad time for all of us because we know that we were champions because of Carter coming over, that was the missing piece. He took us to another level.”

— Darryl Strawberry, Former Mets Teammate

What’s next

The Mets have not yet announced a timeline for retiring Gary Carter's number 8 jersey.

The takeaway

Gary Carter's impact on the Mets franchise went far beyond his impressive statistics, as he was a beloved leader and embodiment of the team's scrappy, championship spirit in 1986. Retiring his number 8 jersey would be a fitting way for the Mets to honor his legacy and ensure it lives on with the organization he helped lead to glory.