Saturday's Joe Mauer Hall of Fame Weekend: a Celebration of a Childhood Hero to Many

[Melissa Berman]

Some Twins fans grew up watching Harmon Killebrew and Tony Oliva. Others found their heroes in Kirby Puckett, Kent Hrbek, or Chuck Knoblauch. We grew up watching Joe Mauer, and we wanted to be just like him.

Image courtesy of Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

When Joe Mauer is inducted into the Twins Hall of Fame Saturday, joining 37 other players and staff like Kirby Puckett, Jim Kaat, and Tom Kelly, Twins fans will have a chance to look back at a childhood hero, and arguably the biggest star Minnesota sports has ever seen. 

One cannot overstate the impact that Joe Mauer had on the state in the early-to-mid 2000s and what it was like being a kid watching Mauer’s reign. To Twins fans of a certain age, Mauer represents some of our first memories of being a fan. He was not only an “American Idol” like the famous Sports Illustrated cover proclaimed, but a hometown, childhood hero, and a role model. 

As a kid who grew up playing softball with a baseball-playing brother and an older sister who also played softball, Twins baseball was huge in our family. We watched all the games on FSN North, our parents took us down to games at the Metrodome almost weekly, and we went to all the free player autograph signings at Cub Foods and the now-defunct Twins Pro Shop stores.

And Mauer was everywhere. 

He was the star of the hilarious Twins “This is Twins Territory” commercials of the 2000s, including one paying homage to the classic Mean Joe Green Coca-Cola TV commercial in which Mauer gives a kid his sideburns (fun fact- the kid in this commercial is the brother-in-law of Twins Daily writer Lou Hennessy) and one in which pitcher and “Joe Mauer’s teammate” Pat Neshek fields questions from crazed Mauer fans who want to know if Mauer has a girlfriend, if he smells nice, and even what his favorite kind of cheese is. “Kids, does anyone have any questions that aren’t about Joe Mauer?” asks the Twins PR staffer (commercial at 1:36 of this video). 

Then, when the Twins were preparing to make a move to Target Field and take baseball into great Minnesota outdoors, Mauer and Joe Nathan starred in the classic “Take It Outside” commercial featuring Mauer’s mother, Teresa, and the nostalgic “Sandlot” commercial in which Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Michael Cuddyer play some sandlot baseball at the future Target Field stadium site. 

He was in a “This is SportsCenter” commercial with Scott Van Pelt, in which Van Pelt, who does not know anything about Minnesota, humorously tries to relate to Mauer the Minnesotan. “You ever meet Prince?” Van Pelt asks Mauer. 

He was on national magazine covers, in video game commercials like MLB 10 The Show and MLB 11 The Show, in which Mauer is still a really nice guy even when getting taunted while playing The Show and instead lets is bat do the talking, and national shampoo commercials. Locally, he was in even more TV spots, like for local health clubs.

Mauer, arguably, is the biggest sports star Minnesota has ever had. Think about it: when has Minnesota otherwise had a sports star on the cover of video games and national TV spots? Never. (The number of kids who do the Griddy on the Target Field big screen suggests that Justin Jefferson might reach these heights, but he is the only star I see as having the potential to reach this type of national visibility.  And yet, there are so many other high-profile NFL stars to compete with, and the batting stats Mauer managed to have as a catcher were truly remarkable). But even as Mauer’s national star rose, he was still ours- the hometown kid from St. Paul who never left and continues to make Minnesota his home. 

Outside of TV commercials, he was on “Got Milk?” posters we had hanging up in school, and he was on a Minnesota Department of Health anti-smoking poster emblazoned with “Fast, fearless, strong, and tobacco free” with a picture of Mauer mid-swing that I still have hanging up in my childhood bedroom. Kids in backyards playing wiffleball pretended to be Mauer, and undoubtedly he inspired more than a few kids to put on catcher’s gear. Kids practiced using Joe Mauer’s QuickSwing hitting device. Kids wanted to “be like Joe” and always the friendly, wholesome role model known for community volunteering and signing autographs; parents were all for it.

A common thread among commercials and 2000’s media featuring Mauer is that he was shown as a wholesome family man. He epitomized "Minnesota Nice." His mother, Teresa, frequently starred in commercials with Mauer, like the “Take it Outside” spot and a Kemps Ice cream commercial in which Mauer catches a scoop of ice cream like a popup in the kitchen. In a different Kemps commercial for milk, Mauer shows up for dinner at his mother’s door with a bouquet and a gallon of milk. “Boy, that was good, just like old times, huh, ma?” Mauer says after dinner as he takes a big swig of milk. “Exactly, so you’ll be doing the dishes,” Teresa Mauer responds. The message of these commercials seems to say that even though we may know him as a multi-millionaire All-Star and batting champion, he still loves his mom, does the dishes, and is still that boy from St. Paul. 

Mauer was also portrayed as a type of “everyman” like us: even though he is a national star and an adult, he plays video games with his friends, eats dinner with his family, and keeps his hair and sideburns looking good using Head and Shoulders shampoo. Commercials showing Mauer playing sandlot baseball and video games also show Mauer in a nostalgic light that makes us think of our own childhoods. 

I remember my parents taking my siblings and me down to Joe Mauer Bat Day at the ‘Dome in 2006 and waiting in long, snaking lines for it- but it was all worth it, and I still have that beauty today. There was also a Joe Mauer sideburns giveaway in 2006.

And when he put on the catcher’s gear one last time in his final game in 2018, there was no dry eye in the stadium. A recent college graduate, I watched Mauer step behind the plate from my spot along the first baseline. I wasn’t a little kid anymore- and Mauer had a constant presence on the team from the time I was in 4th grade until I was in law school. In the literal sense, I grew up watching Mauer. 

So, on Saturday, as the Twins induct Mauer into the coveted Twins Hall of Fame, fans will once again have a chance to celebrate one of Minnesota’s biggest points of pride and a nostalgic, childhood hero to many. 

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[Hashim]

I’m not a Joe Mauer hater but he’s highly overrated. He’s not overrated like Jeter (Goat of Overrated) but he’s highly regarded when he didn’t accomplish much individual or team wise. He won 1 MVP and didn’t do much in the playoffs that year. Justin Morneau, Johan Santana, and even Tori Hunter were much more important and Better players for the Twins. He’s highly regarded because he’s the hometown hero. 

[AlwaysinModeration]

For not being a hater, you do a great impression!

Melissa, great piece.  Joe will be a Twins HOFer this weekend, and in the national HOF soon.  Like Tony Gwynn, he is the face of the franchise.

[Johnny Ringo]

4 hours ago, Hashim said:

I’m not a Joe Mauer hater but he’s highly overrated. He’s not overrated like Jeter (Goat of Overrated) but he’s highly regarded when he didn’t accomplish much individual or team wise. He won 1 MVP and didn’t do much in the playoffs that year. Justin Morneau, Johan Santana, and even Tori Hunter were much more important and Better players for the Twins. He’s highly regarded because he’s the hometown hero. 

I'm not sure what is worse in this post? The sentiment and the spelling and grammar are all fighting for the distinction.  Joe was a great player. Joe is a great guy.  He should be celebrated. Period.  

[BobAzar]

6 hours ago, Hashim said:

I’m not a Joe Mauer hater but he’s highly overrated. He’s not overrated like Jeter (Goat of Overrated) but he’s highly regarded when he didn’t accomplish much individual or team wise. He won 1 MVP and didn’t do much in the playoffs that year. Justin Morneau, Johan Santana, and even Tori Hunter were much more important and Better players for the Twins. He’s highly regarded because he’s the hometown hero. 

You seem fun...

[ENO]

Mauer holds the MLB single-season records for the highest single-season batting average for catchers (.365), which he set in 2009[78] and the highest single-season on-base percentage for a catcher (.444), which he also set in 2009. His career on-base percentage is the highest among major league catchers with a minimum of 500 games played.[79] Mauer is also the first AL catcher to win a batting title[80] and holds the record for the most batting titles by a catcher in a career (3 times).

 

Overrated I guess to hold 3 career catching records.  If anything he was underrated.  Its no conicidence that the Twins pitching staffs declined when he was no longer able to catch as he was one of the best game callers and defensive catchers as well.  Was a joy watching him with a bat in his hands as well as calling and catching games.  He deserves to be a first ballot hall of famer.

[Squirrel]

6 hours ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

For not being a hater, you do a great impression!

Melissa, great piece.  Joe will be a Twins HOFer this weekend, and in the national HOF soon.  Like Tony Gwynn, he is the face of the franchise.

 

3 hours ago, Johnny Ringo said:

I'm not sure what is worse in this post? The sentiment and the spelling and grammar are all fighting for the distinction.  Joe was a great player. Joe is a great guy.  He should be celebrated. Period.  

 

1 hour ago, BobAzar said:

You seem fun...

Let's not make things personal or about the poster, please. If you disagree with the post itself, rebut the post. But let's not make this about an individual poster's character and grammar. Thanks.

[Bob Twins Fan Since 61]

I stand with Melissa.  Joe was a great player and person.  He will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.   He had some bad luck with injuries, or his records would be even greater.  I always felt if him and Morneau had not been derailed with injuries in some of their peak years.  They would have led the Twins to at least World Series appearance or two.  Like Melissa I have tremendous respect for Joe the person.  No classier a guy ever played for the Twins.  I've been around long enough to see them all.  

[Thiéres Rabelo]

Joe Mauer is 90% of the reason why I started watching baseball and the reason I chose to support the Twins. When I lived in the US, I was able to buy my first Twins jersey and I made sure it was his jersey. He's my all-time favorite athlete, by far, in all of the sports I follow. I love you very much, Joe! ❤️

[Melissa Berman]

25 minutes ago, Thiéres Rabelo said:

Joe Mauer is 90% of the reason why I started watching baseball and the reason I chose to support the Twins. When I lived in the US, I was able to buy my first Twins jersey and I made sure it was his jersey. He's my all-time favorite athlete, by far, in all of the sports I follow. I love you very much, Joe! ❤️

Growing up watching the dynamic duo of Mauer and Morneau was such a joy :) I still have a pile of Mauer shirts/ shirseys- I'll have to decide which one to wear to the game tomorrow 😄 Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment!

[Melissa Berman]

58 minutes ago, Bob Twins Fan Since 61 said:

I stand with Melissa.  Joe was a great player and person.  He will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame.   He had some bad luck with injuries, or his records would be even greater.  I always felt if him and Morneau had not been derailed with injuries in some of their peak years.  They would have led the Twins to at least World Series appearance or two.  Like Melissa I have tremendous respect for Joe the person.  No classier a guy ever played for the Twins.  I've been around long enough to see them all.  

Thanks so much for taking the time to read and comment :) His playing legacy can be debated, but he is one of the best ambassadors to the game we've had and no one can deny the cultural impact he had on the state + kids. Definitely someone we can be proud to say is from Minnesota 

[John Belinski]

If both Mauer and Morneau had not got hurt the Twins would have won more games and more titles.

[Melissa Berman]

2 hours ago, ENO said:

Mauer holds the MLB single-season records for the highest single-season batting average for catchers (.365), which he set in 2009[78] and the highest single-season on-base percentage for a catcher (.444), which he also set in 2009. His career on-base percentage is the highest among major league catchers with a minimum of 500 games played.[79] Mauer is also the first AL catcher to win a batting title[80] and holds the record for the most batting titles by a catcher in a career (3 times).

 

Overrated I guess to hold 3 career catching records.  If anything he was underrated.  Its no conicidence that the Twins pitching staffs declined when he was no longer able to catch as he was one of the best game callers and defensive catchers as well.  Was a joy watching him with a bat in his hands as well as calling and catching games.  He deserves to be a first ballot hall of famer.

I agree completely- what he did as a catcher was a remarkable feat at the time and will continue to hold up as so. I don't see as good of a hitting AND defensive catcher coming around in the MLB for a while. Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to comment!

[Melissa Berman]

9 hours ago, Hashim said:

I’m not a Joe Mauer hater but he’s highly overrated. He’s not overrated like Jeter (Goat of Overrated) but he’s highly regarded when he didn’t accomplish much individual or team wise. He won 1 MVP and didn’t do much in the playoffs that year. Justin Morneau, Johan Santana, and even Tori Hunter were much more important and Better players for the Twins. He’s highly regarded because he’s the hometown hero. 

Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment! His on-the-field playing career can be debated, but his cultural impact due to him being a hometown hero can't be debated 

[Melissa Berman]

7 hours ago, AlwaysinModeration said:

For not being a hater, you do a great impression!

Melissa, great piece.  Joe will be a Twins HOFer this weekend, and in the national HOF soon.  Like Tony Gwynn, he is the face of the franchise.

Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment! I agree, his hitting stats and how great of a defensive catcher he was merit MLB HOF consideration, in my view

[Melissa Berman]

1 hour ago, Squirrel said:

 

 

Let's not make things personal or about the poster, please. If you disagree with the post itself, rebut the post. But let's not make this about an individual poster's character and grammar. Thanks.

Thanks, Squirrel :) This is a happy, light piece- let's keep the comments that way too! 

[Vanimal46]

The timing couldn’t have worked out better for me to be a life long Joe Mauer fan. I was 14 and sports, sports, sports, my whole life was just sports. 

I don’t collect autographs anymore, but one thing I do have and will keep for life is a 2003 spring training program signed by Joe. It’s framed and waiting to be displayed proudly again one day*.

*Next to the signed Matt LeCroy picture I have 

[Melissa Berman]

3 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

The timing couldn’t have worked out better for me to be a life long Joe Mauer fan. I was 14 and sports, sports, sports, my whole life was just sports. 

I don’t collect autographs anymore, but one thing I do have and will keep for life is a 2003 spring training program signed by Joe. It’s framed and waiting to be displayed proudly again one day*.

*Next to the signed Matt LeCroy picture I have 

Thanks so much for reading and taking the time to leave a comment! I love looking back at all the bobbleheads, bats, and autographs I got going to games at the Dome/ the free signings. That 2003 autographed program is special- you got it even before broke out!

Also, my brother loved Matthew LeCeoy because his name was also Matthew haha. 

[D. Hocking]

4 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

The timing couldn’t have worked out better for me to be a life long Joe Mauer fan. I was 14 and sports, sports, sports, my whole life was just sports. 

I don’t collect autographs anymore, but one thing I do have and will keep for life is a 2003 spring training program signed by Joe. It’s framed and waiting to be displayed proudly again one day*.

*Next to the signed Matt LeCroy picture I have 

I would consider this to be the holy grail of memorabilia.

[Hashim]

7 hours ago, Melissa Berman said:

Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment! His on-the-field playing career can be debated, but his cultural impact due to him being a hometown hero can't be debated 

Thank you for the piece. I liked Joe Mauer and Justin. They were a great duo. Some of our fans over idiolize/overrate him sometimes. There was no malice intended. 

[Hashim]

7 hours ago, John Belinski said:

If both Mauer and Morneau had not got hurt the Twins would have won more games and more titles.

Agreed. It was unfortunate what happened especially to Morneau. I feel like with tall catchers, injuries can be expected. Joe should have been moved or played less as catcher. 

[Vanimal46]

3 hours ago, D. Hocking said:

I would consider this to be the holy grail of memorabilia.

Harmon Killebrew would buy Vance Worley a beer knowing he wrote his self-appointed nickname legibly!