Meet Joe Carter

JOE CARTER

Positions: Outfielder and First Baseman

Full Name: Joseph Chris Carter

Bats: Right - Throws: Right

Born: March 7, 1960 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA
Organizations: Toronto Blue Jays (7), Cleveland Indians (6), San Diego Padres (1), Baltimore Orioles (1), San Francisco Giants (1), Chicago Cubs (1)

JOE CARTER'S WALL OF GLORY

HONORS AND AWARDS

• All Star: 5 (1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996)
• Silver Sluggers: 2 (1991, 1992)
• World Series Rings: 2 (1992, 1993)

BATTING

• RBI Leader: 1 (1986)
• AB Leader: 2 (1989, 1990)

FIELDING

• Outs made: 1 (1990)
• Defensive Games as RF: 1 (1994)
• Fielding % as CF: 1 (1990)

WHO?

Joe Carter is an American former Major League Baseball player, defending the outfield and first base. He is best known for his walk-off home run that gave the 1993 Toronto Blue Jays its second World Series in a row.  

After reaching the Big Show in 1983 with the Chicago Cubs and being traded to Cleveland the next year, Carter became a power hitter, hitting more than 30 HR 6 times (including a career-high 35 HR in 1989), and driving regularly more than 100 runs (getting a personal record of 121 in 1986 and 1993). He was also a very good runner, stealing from 20 to 30 bases a year (personal high: 31 SB in 1987). In 1987 Carter got 32 HR and 31 SB, becoming a member of the 30-30 club.

After one season in San Diego, Carter was traded to Toronto in December 1990, where he became a leader. The slugger's overall game improved and helped his team to get the AL East Championship (1991) and 2 World Series in a row (1992 and 1993). In the Game 6 of 1993 World Series, with 2 runners on base and Blue Jays trailing 6-5 (but leading the Series 3-2) against Philadelphia, Joe Carter faced Phillies closer Mitch Williams. Carter hit a 3-run home run to win the World Series. It was the second time a World Series ended with a home run (the first time was in 1960, when Pittsburgh's Bill Mazeroski homered against Yankees).

In 1998 Carter became free agent and played for Baltimore Orioles and San Francisco Giants before retiring. Overall he finished his career with 396 HR, 1445 RBI and 231 stolen bases.

MY COMMENT:

Joe Carter became in the protagonist of one of the most iconic images in World Series, running and jumping like a little child after homering against "the Wild Thing" Mitch Williams (Philadelphia Phillies) in 1993, and thus winning the Series.

The powerful outfielder had some defensive issues, especially during the first part of his career, but he became a better fielder during the second part, after being traded to Toronto. If well he was not the speedster he used to be, his combination of power and speed, plus his oportun bat, kept him being a real threat to opposite pitchers.

As an interesant fact among his stats, he was 100% effective stealing bases in 11 attempts in 1994. 

BEST FIVE SEASONS

Year	Age	Tm	Lg	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	Pos
1986	26	CLE	AL	162	663	108	200	36	9	29	121	29	32	95	.302	.335	.514	.849	937/8
1988	28	CLE	AL	157	621	85	168	36	6	27	98	27	35	82	.271	.314	.478	.792	*8
1991	31	TOR	AL	162	638	89	174	42	3	33	108	20	49	112	.273	.330	.503	.833	*97D
1992	32	TOR	AL	158	622	97	164	30	7	34	119	12	36	109	.264	.309	.498	.808	*9D/73
1993	33	TOR	AL	155	603	92	153	33	5	33	121	8	47	113	.254	.312	.489	.802	*97/D

Note: If you are using a cell phone to look at this table, put it horizontally for a better experience

What do you think? Is his walk-off home run in 1993 one of the most memorable plays in the history of World Series? If not, what is it?  Share your thoughts!