“Not many D-I schools in this nation have a Hall of Fame baseball coach,” Palm Beach Atlantic University President Lu Hardin said yesterday, neglecting to mention that not many persons were even aware PBAU was a Division One school. The occasion, as covered by the Palm Beach Post’s Rachel Ulrich, marked the unveiling of former Mets/Expos C Gary Carter (above, left) as the new manager of the Fightin’ Sailfish :
Admitting that he hates to lose “even at Monopoly, even at cards,” Carter takes over a team that went 24-67 in its past two seasons. He’s getting started early, holding his first practice today.
A longtime Palm Beach Gardens resident, Carter, 55, managed the Mets’ Class A St. Lucie team in the Florida State League in 2006. He spent the past season in New York coaching the Long Island Ducks of the Atlantic League and the previous year coaching in California.
When the opportunity to coach near his family – daughter Kimmy Bloemers is the PBAU softball coach – he didn’t hesitate.
“I’ve always had a dream and a desire to be a manager or a coach, and this has now been fulfilled,” Carter said. “It doesn’t have to be in professional baseball, because these are now going to be my professionals.
“And, most importantly, I get to be at home now.”
Best of luck to Gary as manager at PBAU. I’m a long time Gary Carter fan from NJ who believes that he has a great spirit and love for the game, and that he cares about people. May all his dreams come true. It’s been a pleasure cheering for him over the years, and I’m happy for him and his family that he gets to be home with the most important people in his life!