Monday, January 27, 2003

FULLERTON, Calif. (AP) -- Gary Carter's father died Saturday, less than three weeks after hearing that his son had been elected to the baseball Hall of Fame. He was 84.

Jim Carter died after a short illness, the New York Mets said. Gary Carter, who traveled from his Florida home to Fullerton on Friday, was at his father's bedside.

"The last three weeks have been a roller coaster ride for me," the former star said in a statement released by the Mets. "I'm just devastated that my dad won't be with me in Cooperstown. At least my father knew that I'd made the Hall."

On Jan. 7, Gary Carter was elected to the Hall on his sixth try. After getting the good news, the 11-time All-Star catcher made his first celebration call to his father, his old Little League coach.

"He was beyond words," Gary Carter said that day. "I know how much it means to him."

Induction ceremonies will be July 27 in Cooperstown, N.Y. Jim Carter was to turn 85 three weeks before the festivities.

In the months leading up to this last election, Carter often talked about how meaningful it would be for his father to watch the festivities.