Don’t Make the Last Out
Gary Carter has left us, but the footprint he left on our national pastime remains as big and strong as he was during his 19-year career.
When I was 7 years old I watched Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. That one game had a huge impact on me, my imagination and why I eventually became the baseball-lovin-monster I am today.
It was the first time I’d ever witnessed “a miracle”, the first time I really understood you need 27 outs to win a baseball game and the first time I realized that there is no substitute for hard work.
Years later, as a teenager, I recall hearing Gary Carter tell his version of what took place in Flushing that night, that during his at-bat that started the astonishing go-ahead rally his only thought to himself was “Don’t make the last out.”
That resonated with me.
Don’t make the last out.
Don’t ever give up.
Don’t give any effort but your best.
Rest in peace, Number 8.
Jeff
Red State Blue State
I actually had the privilege of watching this game courtesy of MLB Network’s 20 greatest games. It really was something to see even though I knew the outcome. Mookie Wilson was one of the “panelists” and he narrated that he had the same exact approach in “don’t make the last out”
-Mateo
http://mateofischer.mlblogs.com
Time to go back through the old shoe boxes, and look for all my Carter cards. They’re good ones to pass on to the kids. Losing someone like him just sucks all around.
–Mike
Mateo — That was a fantastic game. I’ll never forget it.
Mike — True, but glad to know you still have ‘em in shoeboxes too.
–Jeff