Joe Carter was always considered an elite player in the major leagues as a direct result of his power numbers where he consistently hit more than 25 home runs and drove in more than 100. He would end up driving in more than 100 runs 10 times in his career. Carter could run well, joining the 30-30 club in 1987 and he was a good fielder. The only aspect of his game lacking was his inability to get on base at a superstar's rate. Carter's career on base average was only .306 and he had a career OPS of 770.
Bernard Gilkey finished his career with an OPS of 786.
Carter came out of Wichita State University as a 3-time all-american and The Sporting News' 1981 College Player of the Year. The Chicago Cubs drafted him in 1979 and 1980 while he was still at Wichita State but it wasn't until 1981 that the Cubs finally got their man. Carter was picked #2 in the amateur draft behind
Mike Moore who was taken first by the Mariners.
Despite good minor league success, Carter didn't last long in Chicago and he was traded to the Indians where would toil in mediocrity until 1986 when he would begin to establish himself as one of the best run producers in the game. After hitting 29 home runs and stealing 29 bases in 1986, Carter joined the 30-30 club in 1987, while hitting .302. He would never higher than .275 for the rest of his career. In 1994, Carter became just the tenth player in major league history to hit 300 home runs and steal 200 bases. He also hit 3 home runs in a game 5 times which was an AL record at the time of his retirement.
One of Joe Carter's best characteristics was his durability. He played all of his team's games 4 times in his career and never went down with a serious injury.
No doubt, Joe Carter's shining moment was during the 1993 world series where the Toronto Blue Jays battled the Philadelphia Phillies. In game 6, with the Blue Jays down 6-5 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Carter stepped up to the plate with 2 runners on 1 out against Phillies erratic closer,
Mitch Williams. He made history when he stroked Williams' 2-2 pitch over the left field wall giving the Blue Jays the world championship in 6 games, avoiding game 7 and giving the Jays their second straight World Series. The call by Blue Jays broadcaster Tom Cheek has been enshrined in Canadian baseball history. "Touch 'em all Joe.", he said, " You'll never hit a bigger home run in your life."
Though Carter's productivity remained solid until 1997, his ability to steal a base and field decreased as did his batting average. Carter was a popular player in Toronto but he didn't resign with them in 1998, electing to join the Orioles where he remained until the trading deadline when he was sent to the Giants for a minor leaguer. The Giants didn't make the playoffs after losing a 1-game playoff to the Cubs and he promptly retired.
Joe Carter received 19 votes for the hall of fame in 2004 but it wasn't enough to remain on the ballot for subsequent years. He was, however, inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
Carter was a member of the Toronto Blue Jays World Series Championship teams of 1992-1993
Notes: Al Silver Slugger Award Winner (1991-1992)...All-Star game participant (1991-1994,1996)...Finished tied for 6th in the Home Run Derby at the 1996 all-star game. Carter also finished tied for 3rd in 1992 and tied for 4th in 1991.
