Article: Joe Mauer Announces Retirement After 15 Seasons

[Nick Nelson]

Joe Mauer is hanging up his cleats after 15 years in the major leagues, all spent with his hometown team. On Friday afternoon, the Star Tribune reported that Mauer has taken out a full-page ad in Sunday's edition to announce his decision.

 

The former MVP and six-time All-Star retires with the second-most hits in Minnesota Twins history; his 2,123 trails only Kirby Puckett (2,304).When the Twins selected the local high school star Mauer first overall in 2001, opting for the Cretin Derham Hall star over vaunted USC ace Mark Prior, it was a controversial choice. But it would ultimately be prove to be the correct one.

 

Mauer developed into one of the best-hitting catchers in big-league history, winning three batting titles and batting .323/.405/.468 through 2013. Late in that season, he endured a jarring blow to his mask on a foul tip, and was never the same after. Lingering concussion effects led to a position switch, and Mauer was never the same standout asset as a first baseman.

 

We'll surely be in for some heated Hall of Fame debates five years from now, but for the time being, let us reflect upon one of the greatest careers in this franchise's history.

 

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[VATwinsFan]

Sad, but inevitable I suppose.

 

Here's his letter.

 

https://www.mlb.com/twins/fans/joe-mauer

[operation mindcrime]

Say it ain't so!

[Vanimal46]

Sad day... Enjoy retirement Joe.

[HrbekRules]

Thanks for the memories Joe!

[Blake]

Not unexpected and I'm glad he's hanging things up. Every time he dove for a ball, I got nervous.

 

I think he could have had a roll on the bench, but, his long-term health comes first.

 

You were fun to watch, Mr. Mauer.

 

Enjoy retirement.

 

 

[Richie the Rally Goat]

Enjoy your retirement and cherish your kids Joe!

[TheLeviathan]

I wish him all the best in his retirement and thank him for his years of entertainment through his excellent career.

[ashbury]

Bittersweet moment. Best of luck, Joe.

[Eris]

A joy to watch. Thanks for the memories, Joe. Good luck with your future endeavors.

[Dozier's Glorious Hair]

This feels like an end of an era for the Twins. Not having Joe on the team is going to take some getting used to. 

[one_eyed_jack]

Sad day but probably the right decision for Joe.  Amazing career that could have been a lot more amazing without the concussions.

 

I'll miss watching him play.

[Dozier's Glorious Hair]

When Joe gets his #7 retired, he'll join #14 and #28. If I'm a new Twin, I'm grabbing that #56 before anyone else does. 

[Nine of twelve]

 

When Joe gets his #7 retired, he'll join #14 and #28. If I'm a new Twin, I'm grabbing that #56 before anyone else does. 

There will always be math!

Edited November 10, 2018 by Nine of twelve

[Nine of twelve]

Those of us of a certain age who were in the Twin Cities during the early TK era may remember a most excellent baseball writer for City Pages named Ann Bauleke. I'll always remember what she wrote about Brian Harper in 1991. Closely paraphrasing, she said that Brian Harper was a hitter who could catch. That's what Yogi Berra was. And there have been many of those players. The rarer breed was a catcher who could hit, like Johnny Bench or Ernie Lombardi.

At his peak, Joe Mauer was the best catcher who was the best hitter. Ever. That alone would get my HOF vote.

Edited November 10, 2018 by Nine of twelve

[Thrylos]

Good for him.  After the last game of the season, there was no way that he was not going to retire.

 

Thanks for the memories and I suspect that we will see him in another capacity with the Twins soon.

[glunn]

I think that Joe has made a wise decision and I wish him all the best.

[IndianaTwin]

Well played, Mauer.

[Thrylos]

 

 

When Joe gets his #7 retired, he'll join #14 and #28. If I'm a new Twin, I'm grabbing that #56 before anyone else does. 

 

That number 56 is pretty much cursed.  But available.  Here is a list of all the Twins who wore it:

 

Terry Jorgensen
Jose Parra
Cleatus Davidson
Brad Thomas
Travis Bowyer
Carmen Cali
Randy Ruiz
Rob Delaney
Dusty Hughes
Caleb Thielbar
Tyler Duffey
Fernando Rodney

 

[DocBauer]

I have mixed emotions.

 

I am sad he will no longer be playing and contributing to my/our favorite team. Going to feel very strange not having out there.

 

But I'm also happy because...its just time. And he goes out still able to play and contribute, not being "forced" to retire because his body and game just don't cut it any longer.

 

What's the old line about leaving them wanting more?

 

Very best of luck Joe. You will be missed. Thanks for the memories.

[IndianaTwin]

That number 56 is pretty much cursed.  But available.  Here is a list of all the Twins who wore it:

 

Terry Jorgensen

Jose Parra

Cleatus Davidson

Brad Thomas

Travis Bowyer

Carmen Cali

Randy Ruiz

Rob Delaney

Dusty Hughes

Caleb Thielbar

Tyler Duffey

Fernando Rodney

 

57 worked pretty well, however.

[BD57]

Happy for Joe and his family, happy I got to see him play @ Target these past few years.

 

Could not have asked for a better send off than he received - God blessed us with Joe, and blessed Joe. May He continue to do so.

[D. Hocking]

I was browsing some of the comments, one thing I noticed from former teammates, people how have covered him, and some of his opponents, is that first they would say he was a great player and then follow-up with he was just as good of a person.   

 

I noticed the same thing when he played his last game.   The comments all seemed genuine, not the obligatory canned response.

 

https://www.sportsnet.ca/baseball/mlb/twitter-reaction-major-leaguers-honour-retiring-twins-veteran/

Edited November 10, 2018 by D. Hocking

[Bill Brown69]

The best swing since George Brett!

[Mike Sixel]

Damn concussions.... Good luck to him and his family! I hope he has a long, happy, retirement.

[Pius Jefferson]

It feels like forever that he was drafted in 2001 but it also doesn't feel that long ago. 

 

[tarheeltwinsfan]

I am happy for Joe and his family and I am glad that he is such a good man. Well done, Joe, well done.

[SF Twins Fan]

It’ll be strange going to a Twins game and not being able to watch him play! I’m happy that he retired before it was too late and appreciate all that he did for the game and for the Twins.

[jmlease1]

Loved Joe Mauer. What an amazing, beautiful swing. When I think of Joe at the plate, I'll always remember feeling like he was gonna get a hit. How could he not, with that eye and that swing? And then watch him rip another double to the opposite field gap in left center.

 

I really wish he'd gotten the recognition he deserved as a defensive 1B; he should have won a gold glove there, and I really think it says something about who Joe Mauer is and what kind of player that he was that he made that position shift and wasn't satisfied with being solid (which he was almost immediately) but worked to become great defensively again.

 

Good luck Joe, and enjoy retirement with your kids. I was hoping for one last run, but I don't blame you at all for hanging it up after the latest concussion. ****ing hell, concussions are bad ****.

[Jerr]

So many memories of a great ballplayer and man, so glad he went out, leaving us wanting more!

 

Looking forward to his #7 being retired this coming season and his statue, hopefully in a catchers gear and crouch           

 

Happy for him going out with his health and for all the memories, he has given us!

 

Gonna miss seeing him play, but the time was right!

Edited November 10, 2018 by Jerr