Joe Carter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joe Carter |
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Carter in 2017
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| Outfielder / First baseman | |||
| Born: March 7, 1960 Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| July 30, 1983, for the Chicago Cubs | |||
| Last appearance | |||
| September 28, 1998, for the San Francisco Giants | |||
| MLB statistics | |||
| Batting average | .259 | ||
| Hits | 2,184 | ||
| Home runs | 396 | ||
| Runs batted in | 1,445 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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 Baseball Hall of Fame |
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| Induction | 2003 | ||
Joseph Chris Carter (born March 7, 1960) is a famous American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for several teams. These teams included the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, and San Francisco Giants. Joe Carter was an outfielder and first baseman. He is best known for hitting a special walk-off home run that won the 1993 World Series for the Blue Jays. This was their second championship in a row! Joe Carter is one of only two players ever to end a World Series with a home run.
Contents
- Joe Carter's College Baseball Journey
- Joe Carter's Professional Baseball Career
- Life After Baseball
- Joe Carter's Charity Work
- Awards and Special Recognitions
- Images for kids
Joe Carter's College Baseball Journey
Joe Carter went to Wichita State University for college. He was a very talented player there. In 1981, a big sports magazine called The Sporting News named him the College Player of the Year. He left college after his third year to play professional baseball.
Joe Carter's Professional Baseball Career
Getting Started in the Minor Leagues
In the 1981 MLB draft, the Chicago Cubs picked Joe Carter as the second player overall. He started playing in the minor leagues in 1982. He played really well, hitting .319 with 25 home runs. He also had 98 RBIs in 110 games for the Midland Cubs. In 1983, he moved up to the AAA Iowa Cubs. There, he hit .307 with 22 home runs and 83 RBIs in 124 games.
Playing for the Chicago Cubs (1983)
Joe Carter made it to the Major Leagues in 1983 with the Cubs. He played in 23 games that year. He started the 1984 season back in Iowa, playing in the minor leagues again.
Time with the Cleveland Indians (1984–1989)
On June 13, 1984, Joe Carter was traded to the Cleveland Indians. He had a fantastic season with the Indians in 1986. That year, he led all of Major League Baseball with 121 runs batted in. He also had a career-high 200 hits and scored 108 runs.
In Cleveland, Joe Carter became known as a powerful hitter. He often hit 35 home runs in a season. He also regularly drove in 100 or more runs. He was also a very good base runner. He would steal 20-30 bases each year. In 1987, Joe Carter joined the special 30–30 club. This means he hit 30 home runs and stole 30 bases in the same season.
Moving to the San Diego Padres (1990)
After a strong 1989 season, Joe Carter was traded to the San Diego Padres. Even though he kept driving in runs, he had some trouble with his defense. The Padres then traded him to the Toronto Blue Jays. This trade also included Roberto Alomar. In return, the Padres got star players Fred McGriff and Tony Fernández.
Becoming a Toronto Blue Jay (1991–1997)
Joe Carter's game got much better in 1991. He helped the Toronto Blue Jays win their division title. He hit the game-winning single that secured the AL East championship. He also became a strong leader for the team.
In 1992, he helped the Blue Jays win their first World Series championship. This was the first time a team based in Canada won the World Series! Joe Carter hit two home runs in that series. He also made the final out by catching a throw at first base. This was the first time a World Series ended on a bunt.
Joe Carter and Edwin Encarnación are the only two Blue Jays players to hit two home runs in one inning. Joe Carter did this against the Baltimore Orioles in 1993.
The Famous 1993 World Series Home Run
In 1993, the Blue Jays made it to the World Series again. They played against the Philadelphia Phillies. In Game 6, the Blue Jays were leading the series three games to two. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Blue Jays were losing 6–5. Joe Carter came to bat with one out and two teammates on base.
With a 2–2 count, Joe Carter hit a three-run walk-off home run! He hit it off Phillies pitcher Mitch Williams. This home run won the World Series for the Blue Jays. It was only the second time a World Series ended with a home run. The other time was in 1960. It was the only time a World Series-winning home run was hit by a player whose team was behind in the bottom of the ninth. After hitting the home run, Joe Carter jumped up and down with excitement. The Blue Jays' radio announcer, Tom Cheek, famously called the play: "Touch 'em all, Joe, you'll never hit a bigger home run in your life!"
Later Years with the Blue Jays (1994–1997)
Joe Carter continued to play for the Blue Jays until 1997. He led the team in home runs and RBIs in 1994 and 1995.
When he played in the 1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, he was booed by fans. This game was in Philadelphia, the home of the Phillies. They remembered his World Series-winning home run against their team!
Final Season with Orioles and Giants (1998)
Joe Carter became a free agent in 1998. He played briefly for the Baltimore Orioles and the San Francisco Giants. He then retired from baseball. His career ended when he popped out in a special playoff game against the Chicago Cubs.
Joe Carter's Career Highlights
Joe Carter was chosen for five All-Star teams during his career. He hit a total of 396 home runs and drove in 1445 runs. He had 100 or more RBIs in a season ten times. This includes the 1994 season, which was shorter due to a player strike. He was the first player to get 100 RBIs for three different teams in three years in a row. In 1993, as a Blue Jay, he set an American League record. He hit 3 home runs in a game for the fifth time in his career.
Joe Carter was also part of the final plays in four games where the Blue Jays won a championship:
- In 1991, he hit the game-winning single to win the American League East division.
- In the 1992 World Series, he caught the final out at first base.
- In the 1993 American League Championship Series, he caught the final out on a fly ball.
- In Game 6 of the 1993 World Series, he hit the famous walk-off home run.
Life After Baseball
After retiring from playing, Joe Carter worked as a baseball commentator. From 1999 to 2000, he was a commentator for the Toronto Blue Jays. Then, from 2001 to 2002, he worked for the Chicago Cubs on TV.
In 2003, Joe Carter was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame. In 2006, he received the Major League Baseball Hometown Heroes Award. This award is for players who best represent their team's history, as voted by fans.
On August 7, 2009, Joe Carter helped organize a reunion for his 1992 and 1993 Toronto Blue Jay World Series teammates. Many players, coaches, and trainers attended this special event at the SkyDome.
In 2015, fans voted Joe Carter as one of the four most valuable players in Toronto Blue Jays history. This was part of the Franchise Four members announcement before the All-Star Game.
Joe Carter's Charity Work
Joe Carter helps lead an event called the "Joe Carter Classic." This is a celebrity golf tournament held in the Toronto area. It started in 2010 and helps raise money for the Children's Aid Foundation. The tournament has raised over $2.5 million for the foundation. Famous people like Charles Barkley and Ray Bourque have joined in these events.
Awards and Special Recognitions
Joe Carter has received many awards and honors:
- He was a 5-time All-Star (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996).
- He won the Silver Slugger Award twice (1991, 1992).
- He is part of the Toronto Blue Jays Level of Excellence.
- In 1988, he was inducted into the Wichita State University Pizza Hut Shocker Hall of Fame.
- In 1999, he was inducted into the Missouri Valley Conference Hall of Fame.
- In 2003, he was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
- In 2004, he was inducted into the Ontario Sports Hall of Fame.
- In 2008, he was inducted into the Kansas Baseball Hall of Fame.
Images for kids
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Joe Carter (left) and his family with United States Secretary of Defense William Cohen at the Pentagon in 1998.
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