Baseball Hall of Famer and Minnesota Twins legend Joe Mauer is getting a statue. On Sunday, Mauer will join other Twins' legends like Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, Harmon Killebrew, Rod Carew, Tony Oliva and Tom Kelly - along with franchise owners Carl and Eloise Pohlad - with a bronze likeness outside of Target Field.
It's just the latest honor for Mauer who spent each of his 15 major league seasons with the Minnesota Twins and was a 2024 member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
As for the statue getting unveiled outside Target Field's Gate 34, Twins spokesperson Matt Hodson says Mauer was heavily involved in the creative process.
"Joe went into Bill Mack's studio for a day-long photo shooting session that allowed Bill to then carve it in his likeness," explains Hodson. "So Joe was very involved not only in the process of what pose the statue would be, but then how it came to life."
Has Mauer seen what it will look like?
"Sunday will be the first time he sees the final version," Hodson adds.
The ceremony takes place just outside Gate 34 at 11:30 a.m. ahead of the Twins game against the Detroit Tigers.
Hodson says plenty of Mauer's former teammates and other Twins greats will be on hand.
"And Joe's family, of course. Just come out. I don't think we could ever celebrate Joe Mauer enough," Hodson says. "But this is another time to come and tip your cap to probably - in my mind - one of the best hitting catchers in baseball history. And a Minnesota Twin through and through."
Of course for Mauer, it was more than just being a Minnesota Twin, as he grew up in St. Paul and was drafted number on overall by his hometown club coming out of high school in 2001.
"From being a kid from St. Paul, Cretin Derham Hall, number one draft pick, who not only lived up to those expectations, exceeded them," notes Hodson. "He checked every box for what's really truly it means to be a Minnesota Twin. The memories he made for a generation of Minnesotans will forever be cherished and it, and he deserves like any of the other statues to be someone who is celebrated forever."
Mauer's statue is the work of Minnesota-based artist Bill Mack who has created each of the statues at Target Field.
WHAT: The Minnesota Twins will formally unveil and dedicate a statue outside Target Field honoring the career and legacy of St. Paul native, franchise legend and 2024 National Baseball Hall of Fame inductee Joe Mauer.
WHEN: Sunday, April 13 at 11:30 a.m. (prior to the Twins vs. Detroit Tigers game at 1:10 p.m.)
WHERE: Target Plaza, outside Target Field’s Gate 34 heading toward 6th Street and 1st Avenue.
ATTENDING: Justin Morneau (longtime teammate and Twins Hall of Famer), Tom Kelly (Twins Hall of Famer who also has a Target Field statue in his honor), Paul Molitor (fellow St. Paul native and National Baseball Hall of Famer, along with Joe’s final Twins manager), Tony Oliva (Twins great and National Baseball Hall of Famer), Corey Koskie (teammate and Twins Hall of Fame electee), Glen Perkins (fellow Minnesota native and former teammate) and Bill Mack (the Minnesota-based artist who has crafted each Target Field statue).