One day after the Minnesota Twins announced Joe Mauer would join the organization's Hall of Fame later this year, Mauer joined WCCO Radio live at TwinsFest to talk about the latest honor in his storied career.
Mauer told WCCO Radio's Jason DeRusha and Kris Atteberry from the Twins Radio Network about receiving the call.
"The tradition is getting a call from Rod Carew and it was special," Mauer said. "We had Rod Carew on the line, Dave St. Peter, and Dustin Morse. Obviously those three I've known for a long time and they delivered the news. It was a special moment."
Mauer spent his entire 15-year career with the Twins who drafted the Saint Paul-native as the first overall pick in the 2001 draft. He made his MLB debut with the Twins on April 5, 2004.
From there, the rest is history as Mauer became a six-time All Star, three-time Gold Glove Award winner, five-time Silver Slugger Award winner, six-time All Star, and three-time American League batting champion.
He was also named the AL MVP in 2009.
Now the debate becomes whether or not Mauer will be elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2024, his first year of eligibility.
"There's no doubt in my mind that [Mauer] will be in Cooperstown," said Twins president Dave St. Peter. "Hopefully the stories we tell this summer springboard a healthy, successful campaign with writers here for next December and January."
And for Mauer, the Hall of Fame has been on his mind, at least as of late.
"I've been thinking about it more lately, because it's been brought up more lately," Mauer said on Saturday. "It's one of those things, it's an honor to be on the ballot. There's only a few guys who get on the ballot and to be considered for something like that... I was able to go out last year to support Tony Oliva and his induction. It was my first time in Cooperstown for induction weekend."
Mauer will be inducted as the 38th member of the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Target Field on August 5.