I remember watching him hit the walkoff HR on opening day in his first game with the Mets. I had gotten into the Mets around 79-80 (when I got WWOR-9) and getting him, then watching that game end I couldn't help but feel like that team was moving in the right direction.
I've read and watched most that's out there on the 1986 team and, one thing that Carter was noted for was taking a lot of the media responsibility and being the face of that team to the reporters. They had such a grouping of miscreants and drunks that Carter was the clean, hometown smiling face they often saw. The team knew he covered their acts and respected him for that.