MINNEAPOLIS — Growing up in St. Paul, former Minnesota Twins All-Star Joe Mauer had a few hometown legends to look up to.
Dave Winfield, Paul Molitor and Jack Morris all grew up in the Capital City, all spent time with the Twins and all carved out Hall of Fame careers in the MLB. On Tuesday, Mauer will have a chance to join those three in Cooperstown, N.Y when the newest Baseball Hall of Fame class is announced.
“I think this whole (Hall of Fame) process – with the five years after you’re retired – definitely helps to reflect on your career, and things that you’ve done and maybe appreciate them a little more,” Mauer told KARE 11’s Randy Shaver.
Winfield, who grew up just south of Mauer's childhood home, was perhaps one of the best all-around athletes to have ever come from St. Paul. He played college basketball at the University of Minnesota and was drafted by four pro teams in three different sports in 1973 – the Minnesota Vikings (NFL), Atlanta Hawks (NBA), Utah Stars (ABA) and the San Diego Padres (MLB) – before putting together a Hall of Fame career in baseball.
Molitor grew up just down the road on Portland Avenue, played high school ball at Cretin and followed in Winfield’s footsteps by attending the University of Minnesota. Molitor was first drafted to be a pitcher in 1974, but instead chose to play college baseball with the Gophers, where he became an All-American shortstop. The Milwaukee Brewers selected Molitor in the first round, and more than 3,000 hits later, he joined Winfield in the Hall of Fame.
Morris was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2018 after winning three World Series, including one with the Twins. In fact, his Game 7 outing in the 1991 World Series is still considered to be one of the greatest pitching performances in baseball – a 10-inning shutout to earn him the World Series MVP.
While Winfield, Morris and Molitor all have "World Series champion" on their resumes, Mauer has five Silver Slugger awards, three batting titles, three Gold Gloves and an MVP. As a catcher, Mauer was one of the best to ever do it. His command at the plate – a .306 career batting average – was matched only by his consistency behind it. When healthy, Mauer was one of the best backstops in the league, but injuries eventually took their toll. Mauer ended his career playing first base, until Sept. 30, 2018 when he threw on the catcher’s gear for one last time in his final game before retiring.
“When you look at him as a catcher, he’s historic,” said longtime Star Tribune sportswriter Patrick Reusse. “… Catchers have won four batting titles in major league history, only three of them in the American League and they’re all Joe Mauer.”
“I think he definitely has a good shot,” said Morris. ”Just a matter of ‘When,’ not ‘Will’ he make it. He will make it."
It could come as soon as Tuesday when the 2024 class is announced.
“I’ve talked with a lot of baseball writers across the country about this, and a lot of them believe he’s done enough as a catcher to be in the hall of fame,” said Star Tribune columnist and former Twins beat writer LaVelle E. Neal. “I think it’s going to happen. I don’t know if it’s going to happen on the first ballot, but I think Joe will have his day in Cooperstown.”
Like Mauer, Adrián Beltré is also on the ballot for the first time. He is considered by many to be a slam dunk hall of fame inductee, so some writers may be hesitant to put two first-timers in Cooperstown.
“I definitely enjoyed playing, and enjoyed the journey,” said Mauer. “If it ends up in Cooperstown, then that would be unbelievable.”
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