Mets Hall of Fame catcher Gary Carter got some bad news on Friday.
“I learned that four very small tumors have been found on my brain, following an MRI on Friday at a West Palm Beach facility,” Carter said in a statement through the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame.
“I am scheduled to be examined further Thursday at Duke Medical Center and we will learn more at that time about my diagnosis. My wife, Sandy, and our children and family thank you for your thoughts and prayers. We ask that you please respect our privacy as we learn more about my medical condition. Thank you.”
It won’t be clear until after Thursday’s procedure at Duke whether the 57-year-old Carter’s tumors are benign or malignant.
“It’s very scary. I saw him about a month ago. I’m just shocked,” said ex-Mets teammate Howard Johnson. “The guy’s so healthy. Gary’s a fighter. He was always a gamer. He’s always met every challenge, whether it was playing or coaching. He loves challenges and this is obviously a different kind of challenge.”
Carter — who has been managing at Palm Beach Atlantic College this year near his home — hit .262 with 324 home runs and 1,225 RBIs in a 19-year career with the Mets, Montreal Expos, Giants and Dodgers. He spent five seasons in Flushing, winning the 1986 World Series, and the news stunned his colleagues and coaches.
“It breaks your heart. You hope that it’s not what you think it is,” Lee Mazzilli said of Carter, who earned the nickname “The Kid” for his enthusiasm. “If anyone has the optimistic outlook [to beat it], he has one. I saw him in January. Life’s crazy. I was taken aback.”
Davey Johnson managed Carter for the catcher’s entire stay in Flushing, but after losing his daughter, Andrea, to septic shock in 2005 and stepson, Michael, on May 3 to pneumonia, he wasn’t ready to deal with the possibility of Carter’s illness.
“I’d rather not comment much until I know more about it. I’ve suffered a lot of losses myself, and I don’t know how serious it is,” Johnson said. “Everybody knows how great he was for the Mets. I don’t have a lot of comments until I know more of what’s going on. My prayers are out there. . . . I’ve known Gary a long time, and I just lost my stepson. I don’t want to think he’s in any danger.”
Carter caught Bob Ojeda, Ron Darling and David Cone for years, and all were stunned by the news.
“The initial reaction was your heart and prayers go out to him and his family. But there’s a lot to be found out yet. It’s certainly unsettling at best,” Ojeda said. “Let’s just hope that it really turns out to be not cancerous. Until then, let’s just wait.”
Darling was “devastated by the news,” but said he was “comforted by knowing that no one I have ever been around has more spirit, strength and belief that the opponent would be defeated.”
“I have no doubt that the ‘Kid’ will come out on top again,” Darling said.
Cone, whom Carter caught from 1987-89 in Flushing, was blindsided as well.
“That’s shocking news about Gary. He is such a huge part of not only the Mets, but of the entire New York sports scene. He brought so much to the Mets in the ‘80s, both on and off the field,” said Cone, now a commentator for the Yankees on YES. “My thoughts and prayers are with him. I’m hoping for the best.”
Mets brass said their thoughts are with the star and his loved ones.
“On behalf of the Mets organization, our thoughts and prayers are with Gary, Sandy and the entire Carter family,” Mets COO Jeff Wilpon said in a release.
brian.lewis@nypost.com