35 Years Ago, The Kid Became A Met

Hubie Brooks always considered it an honor to be part of a trade that helped the Mets acquire future Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter from the Expos 35 years ago today.

New York sent Brooks, catcher Mike Fitzgerald, outfielder Herm Winningham and pitcher Floyd Youmans to Montreal for Gary who would lead the Mets to the World Series Championship two years later.

“I remember the trade like it was yesterday,” said Brooks, who would rejoin the Mets for one year in 1991. “I was watching Monday night football and they broke into the broadcast and said the Mets had just acquired Gary. They didn’t say names at first and later I got a call from our GM Frank Cashen.”

Brooks, who joined the Mets in 1980, was quite sad when leaving Shea Stadium.

“We won 90 games in 1984 and we had a lot of young guys who were just getting better,” he said. “There was Doc, Straw, Mookie, Darling and Wally Backman. I knew good things were about to happen and I wanted to be a part of it.”

“Gary was such a great player and even better person,” said Brooks.” It’s a good feeling that my name is linked with him because of the trade. I guess in some small way I really did play a part in what happened in 1986.”

Hubie Brooks recently visited Citi Field this past season where he was greeted by the love of Mets fans who remembered him.