JOSEPH CARTER
1960 –
Inducted – 2000

When Gene Stephenson was hired to revive the baseball program at Wichita State University in 1977, the first prep star he signed was Joe Carter of Oklahoma City. Carter responded by earning All-America honors in each of his three seasons as an outfielder at WSU and in 1981, was named NCAA Player of the Year by both The Sporting News and All-America Baseball News. He helped lead the Shockers to the school’s first NCAA Tournament berths in 1980 and ’81. The 6’-3”, 215-pound all-star authored the Shocker record book, setting 10 season and 11 career records before he departed after the ’81 season. More than twenty years later, Carter still held the WSU career records for Batting Average (.430) and Slugging Percentage (.788). His single season WSU records still standing include: Batting Average (.450); Doubles (34); Triples (13); Total Bases (229); and Hitting Streak (10 consecutive at bats). Carter became a first-round draft pick of the Chicago Cubs in 1981 and blossomed into major league star with the Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres. Traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 1991, the five-time All-Star became the hero of the 1993 World Series when his home run in the bottom of the ninth inning brought the world title to Toronto. Carter retired after the 1998 season with Hall of Fame career numbers: 2,194 hits; 1,170 runs; 396 home runs; and 1,445 runs-batted-in. He was enshrined in the Shocker Hall of Fame in 1998. Born March 7, 1960 – Oklahoma City, OK. Attended Wichita State University, 1978-81.