Joe Carter

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Carter's tenure with the Toronto Blue Jays began in 1991 after being traded from San Diego alongside Roberto Alomar. In his first season, he helped clinch the AL East title and emerged as a team leader. His offensive production was critical to the franchise's back-to-back championships. In the 1992 World Series against the Atlanta Braves, Carter hit two home runs and recorded the final out of the series by catching a bunt from Otis Nixon at first base. He was named to three All-Star teams during his seven years in Toronto and won Silver Slugger Awards in 1991, 1992, and 1993.

In Their Own Story

The defining moment of Carter's career occurred on October 23, 1993, in Game 6 of the World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies. With the Blue Jays trailing 6–5 in the bottom of the ninth inning, Rickey Henderson and Paul Molitor were on base with one out. Facing Mitch Williams, a pitcher Carter had gone 0-for-4 against previously, he took a 2–2 count and launched a three-run walk-off home run to win the championship. As he rounded first base, his helmet flew off while he jumped up and down in celebration. Radio broadcaster Tom Cheek famously shouted, "Touch 'em all, Joe, you'll never hit a bigger home run in your life!" This proved to be Carter's final postseason appearance as a player.

Reader's Guide

Carter played for the Blue Jays from 1991 through 1997, recording his tenth and final season with at least 100 RBIs in 1997. He was the first player to record 100 RBIs for three different teams in three consecutive seasons. During this span, he led the Blue Jays in home runs and RBIs in both 1994 and 1995. In a notable 1993 game against the Baltimore Orioles, Carter became one of only two players in team history to hit two home runs in a single inning. He also holds the distinction of being involved in the final plays of four specific championship-clinching moments for Toronto: the 1991 division title single, the 1992 World Series final out, the 1993 ALCS final fly ball, and the 1993 World Series walk-off.

Did You Know?

• Carter was the second overall pick in the 1981 MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs.
• He is one of only two players, after Bill Mazeroski in 1960, to end a World Series with a home run.
• Carter hit three home runs in a game five times in his career, but he did not hold the American League record for that feat.
• He led the American League in RBIs in 1986 with 121 runs batted in.
• Carter was involved in four different final plays that clinched championships for the Blue Jays between 1991 and 1993.