Still a Kid at Heart

As a baseball player, Gary Carter had forged a stellar 19-year resume that earned him the pinnacle of his profession--election to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003. By the time he retired, he had been chosen to the All-Star team 11 times, been awarded a Gold Glove for defense three times, had finished in the top 10 in National League Most Valuable Player voting five times, was fourth on the all-time list for home runs by a catcher, and held the major league record for catchers in putouts and chances accepted. Clearly, longevity and durability were hallmarks of Carter's career. His nickname was Kid, and when his playing days were over, he still felt like a kid, with so much life to live and so much energy and experience to offer. But baseball was all he had ever known. Carter tried his hand at broadcasting, coaching, and managing in the minor leagues, all with an eye toward returning to the major leagues as a manager. Along the way, Carter learned valuable lessons. In his new book, Still a Kid at Heart, written with longtime New York baseball writer Phil Pepe, Carter writes of his love for the game, the personalities on and off the field who have enriched his life, the years since his retirement. His experiences serve as a primer for all professional athletes who face the dilemma of what to do after the cheering has subsided. Readers gain incisive insights into the game from the unique perspective of a catcher in this revealing and intimate portrayal of his life as a ballplayer and beyond. An irresistibly upbeat personality, Carter talks eagerly and optimistically about his future, the state of the game, and much more, making it easy to see why he's still a kid at heart.