FULLERTON – Gary Carter earned the nickname “the Kid” when he was a 19-year-old attending his first spring training with the Montreal Expos in 1974.

When he retired in 1992, the moniker remained synonymous with Carter as it captured the childlike enthusiasm for the game for which the eventual Hall of Fame catcher was known.

The Kid died in February 2012, but the dedication of a showcase field at the Fullerton Sports Complex on Saturday makes it likely his youthful spirit will live on in his hometown. Family members, friends and a few hundred fans of the Sunny Hills High grad attended an afternoon gathering at the sports park.

“Gary always was a gregarious, charismatic type of individual,” said his brother, Gordon. “He would’ve been actively involved in this event. He loved kids and obviously loved baseball and Little League, and it was a tremendous time for him as he moved up the ladder.”

Fullerton Mayor Doug Chaffee presented Gary’s wife, Sandy, of West Palm Beach, Fla., and son, D.J., 29, of Los Angeles, with a plaque that listed Gary’s many career accomplishments and also featured a few engraved photos of the Fullerton legend in his playing days.

“He was a wonderful man off the field – a wonderful husband,” Sandy as she addressed the crowd. “It’s such a blessing to see all these familiar faces from high school and family. I’m just so grateful to be here.”

Dozens in attendance wore Carter’s signature No. 8 jersey from his days with the Expos and the New York Mets, the team with which he won a World Series title in 1986.

The ceremony was held at the base of the pitcher’s mound on a day well-suited for baseball.

Former Sunny Hills High School coaches spoke about their encounters with Carter and shared stories of some of his feats.

“I think wherever these players played their baseball, there should be more of that honoring going on,” former Los Angeles Dodgers star Ron Cey said. “It gives them hope that they can have those goals as a young player.”

Before the exhibition game between Little League and PONY League youth, players unveiled the new scoreboard beyond left field that read “Gary Carter Field.” Those same 13- and 14-year-olds wore Mets and Expos jerseys and competed wearing the No. 8 and “The Kid” on the back.

D.J. Carter threw out the ceremonial first pitch and watched cheerfully from the stands as the Little Leaguers all took the field with a smile, much like his father did over the course of his career.

“It’s such an honor to have a field to be dedicated after my dad,” D.J. Carter said. “He loved baseball so much. It really was in his blood. It was everything that he was passionate about. I think it’s just so awesome that kids in the future are going to learn to play baseball on a field that has my dad’s name on it.”

Inducted: into the Baseball Hall of Fame 2003.

Contact the writer: 714-704-3782 or kconnolly@ocregister.com