Carter, "Joe" (Joseph C.)
Baseball
b. March 7, 1960, Oklahoma City, OK
One of the most productive hitters in baseball during the late 1980s and early '90s, Carter drove in more than 100 runs in five consecutive seasons, from 1989 through 1993.
A two-year college All-American as an outfielder at Wichita State University, the 6-foot-3, 225-pounder entered the major leagues briefly with the NL's Chicago Cubs in 1983.
The Cubs traded him to the AL's Cleveland Indians in 1984, when Carter hit 13 home runs in just 66 games. He became a starter in the outfield and at first base in 1986 and led the league with 121 RBI, batting .302 with 29 home runs. After RBI totals of 106, 98, and 105 over the next three seasons, Carter was traded to the NL's San Diego Padres.
He spent just one season in San Diego, collecting 115 RBI, before being sent to the AL's Toronto Blue Jays. With Toronto, he had 108 RBI in 1991, 119 in 1992, and 121 in 1993, and he helped lead the team to consecutive World Series victories in 1992 and 1993.
When the Blue Jays beat the Philadelphia in six games in the 1993 Series, Carter hit a three-run home run in the ninth inning to win the final game 8-6. It was the first time in World Series history that a home run had brought a team from behind to win the deciding game.
Carter joined the Baltimore Orioles as a free agent in 1998. He retired after hitting only .247 as a part-time designated hitter that season.