There are very few fairytale stories that can match Joe Mauer's. A St. Paul kid, drafted by his hometown team, wears that single cap his entire career, he goes out with a hustling double in his very last at-bat at Target Field, and now he's off to the greatest honor in all of baseball: induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Did we mention he is a superb person, who teammates loved and respected, and spent his entire career taking what seemed like a photo with every person in Minnesota, and constantly found ways to give back to the community?
"He loved baseball, he understood the game, he's very smart," says his former manager Ron Gardenhire. "He was a leader in the clubhouse and everything, and that's why he's going into the Hall of Fame."
Gardenhire managed Mauer for most of his career, from his first season in 2004 until leaving the team in 2016. Speaking to Vineeta Sawkar on the WCCO Morning News, Gardenhire says Mauer was ready from the day he got to the Twins.
"He got to the big leagues and he was a big leaguer. A very talented young man but very humble. You don't see that too often in major sports," explained Gardenhire.
Mauer spent his entire career with his hometown Twins and was named in his first year of eligibility for the National Baseball Hall of Fame, making him the most recent Twin to be honored since Tony Oliva and Jim Kaat in 2022.
Mauer said after the announcement he was thinking a lot about his dad Tuesday, who he lost just over a year ago.
"When you think about the position that I'm in, you know, he's a huge part of that, and my grandpa" Mauer explained. "And being thankful that they got to see my last game, there every game supporting me. I would love to have them here celebrating with him. But I know he's smiling up there and looking down proud. So that makes me feel good."
Mauer was nominated to the hall with just over 76 percent of the baseball writers votes. One needs 75 percent. The Hall of Fame ceremony is slated for July 21st.
"Minnesota had the number one pick that year and it's just kind of the stars aligned for me," says Mauer. "To be selected by my hometown team and then to be able to stay my entire career with my hometown team is something that I know is rare these days. Something that I look back, and smile, and I'm very proud of, one cap my whole career."
Mauer was drafted by the Twins in 2001 after initially committing to Florida State to play football. Mauer was the top ranked high school football player in the nation and also was All-State as a basketball player.
It was former Twins General Manager Terry Ryan who chose Mauer for the Twins that year, and he told Vineeta Sawkar on the WCCO Morning News that he made Minnesota proud.
"He was a leader, and he was not a rah-rah guy but he carried himself with that leadership that people watched, and saw how he reacted," explained Ryan who left the organization in 2016. "He would always take the tough questions. He would never shy away from the media. There were a lot of things he did that you don't notice. He was community-involved to say the least. So he did a lot of things to make the Twins proud."
Ryan remembers Mauer as a complete player, one of the biggest reasons he is now a hall of famer.
"He could run, he could throw, he had bat skills, he could catch, he could frame (pitches), all that stuff," Ryan says.
Mauer, of course, is St. Paul throughout. He grew up in the city, starred at Cretin, and now joins an amazing list of Hall of Fame ballplayers from that city including Jack Morris, Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield.
Winfield, speaking to WCCO's Henry Lake Tuesday night, says it's a huge honor being a first ballot hall of fame inductee.
"Ultimately when the guys get in, whether it's the second year, fifth year, ninth year, tenth year, ultimately they're happy," says Winfield who was inducted in 2001. "Then when you make it to the Hall of Fame, you're accepted, and you're one of us. But first ballot is something special. Really."
Winfield says Mauer is deserving of all the accolades.
"I just want him to soak it in, enjoy it, and he's a Minnesota favorite, and a Minnesota Twins favorite," says Winfield who spent most of his career in San Diego and New York before a brief stint with his hometown Twins.
Mauer, along with Adrian Beltre, Todd Helton and Manager Jim Leyland are the full 2024 class, with Beltre joining Mauer as a first ballot inductee. The ceremony will take place in Cooperstown, New York in July. The Twins will host an in-ballpark celebration prior to the August 3 game vs. the Chicago White Sox at Target Field.