Gary Carter, the Hall-of-Fame catcher who played for the New York Mets, will manage the Long Island Ducks, an independent minor-league baseball team.

Carter managed in the Mets' minor-league system for two years and spent last season with the Orange County Flyers of the Golden Baseball League in California. He lobbied the Mets in May to take over for Willie Randolph while Randolph still was the team's manager.

The Ducks play in Central Islip, New York, in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. Bud Harrelson, a former Mets player, coach and manager, is a co-owner of the team that isn't associated with a Major League Baseball franchise.

Carter played five seasons with the Mets, winning the World Series in 1986. The 54-year-old was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2003.