Joe Mauer Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame

[Cody Christie]

It had become almost clear in recent weeks, but the results were officially announced on Tuesday night. Joe Mauer is a first-ballot member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

Image courtesy of Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Joe Mauer received the call that every baseball player dreams of following their retirement. He will be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame this summer, as part of the Class of 2024. Some Twins fans might be surprised by his support from the baseball writers, but his résumé stacks up with that of the top players in baseball history. 

Entering Tuesday, Mauer was trending above 83% on the known ballots. Candidates must be listed on 75% or more of the submitted ballots to be inducted. A player can stay on the ballot for up to 10 years if they receive more than 5% of the vote, so it looked as if Mauer would eventually be elected even if he fell short in 2024. Instead, he made it in his first try, and joined some elite company in the process. Mauer slid in at 76.1 percent, behind no-brainer third baseman Adrián Beltré (95.1 percent of voters) and sixth-time candidate Todd Helton (79.7 percent) in clearing the threshold, and the trio will go in alongside Jim Leyland in July.

Before Mauer, there had only been two catchers in baseball history to be selected on the first ballot. To many, Johnny Bench is considered the greatest catcher of all time, and he received 96.4% of the vote in 1989. Iván Rodríguez was considered an elite defensive catcher and was named on 76% of the ballots in 2017. Mauer finished behind Bench with his percentage, but it still means he has the second-highest percentage for any first-ballot catcher in history.

Mauer also becomes the latest pledge of the fraternity of Hall of Fame players from St. Paul, MN. He joins Paul Molitor, Dave Winfield, and Jack Morris in the halls of Cooperstown. Molitor and Winfield were both first-ballot selections, while Morris had to wait to be elected by the Veterans Committee. It’s incredible to have three first-ballot Hall of Fame members from the same city, and even rarer that they could all wear a Twins uniform during their prestigious careers.

Mauer and the rest of the Baseball Hall of Fame’s 2024 class will be inducted in a ceremony on July 21, 2024, in Cooperstown, New York. For fans planning on attending, planning your trip well in advance is best. Cooperstown is a tough place to get to, and you must fly into a neighboring city and drive the rest of the way. That being said, a large contingent of Twins Territory will likely be on hand to support the hometown star. 

Congratulations to Mauer and his family on a tremendous career. Twins fans were lucky to watch him play in his hometown for his entire career. Now, he will be immortalized in Cooperstown, and one has to think that a statue outside Target Field will be coming in the years ahead.

What’s your favorite Mauer memory? Will you be making the trek to Cooperstown this summer? Leave a COMMENT and start the discussion.

View full article

[Bob Twins Fan Since 61]

Fantastic news for Joe, his family, and all Twins fans.

 

[tony&rodney]

A most deserving choice. Excellent. Congratulations Joe.

[GNess]

Joe Mauer is well-deserving as First Ballot Hall of Famer and one of the greatest Twins of all-time.

[Linus]

Joe did stuff no other catcher ever will. Congratulations!

[IndianaTwin]

Well played, Mauer. 

[stringer bell]

A one-of-us two-fer! He spent his entire career with the Twins and he was born and raised in Minnesota. 

His career was just long enough and he played catcher just long enough to be considered favorably. Good for him!

[AlwaysinModeration]

Just scraped in over the line with 76.1%, four votes to spare.  Congrats Joe!

[Matthew Trueblood]

The indelible Mauer moment, for me, will always be his hustle double in Game 163 in 2009. That's the best baseball game I've ever seen, and Mauer set the perfect tone. Hard-hit ball, heads-up, playing hard, crowd loving it. Just a *gorgeous* swing. 

https://youtube.com/clip/Ugkx_BqEdq3_AaohIAsDye1Vstkk7hZq6M2_?si=_AHWMWyoeMKuH4pc

 

[DJL44]

First Hall of Famer born in the 1980s and the first one younger than me.

[stringer bell]

15 minutes ago, DJL44 said:

First Hall of Famer born in the 1980s and the first one younger than me.

Yeah, I was wondering if he would be the youngest HOF member. He might be the youngest for a couple years. I know Miggy is a day older. Incidentally, Joe was born on my birthday.

[h2oface]

Never a doubt. All those wasted words. Well played, Joe Mauer. 
 

Tori with 28 votes/7.3% after 4 years - and still on the next ballot. 

[gunnarthor]

This play. Man. It's a bit bittersweet because the Twins still lost the game. But after that game, Yankee fans flooded Twins' fans blogs and forums and said how great Mauer would look in pinstripes. Boston fans showed up, too. 

Part of me wonders if he would have hit. .400 at Fenway but I'm really glad he stayed. Great, great career.

[twinsnorth49]

Way to go Joe, well earned, well deserved 

[Riverbrian]

From Minnesota Boy to Minnesota Man. 

He is simply one of us. 

Feels like a family member getting this incredible well deserved recognition. 

I'm almost as happy as he is. 

Almost of course... Almost. 

 

[nicksaviking]

Great news, and well deserved!

But apparently it wasn't 'clear in recent weeks' because he looked like a lock prior to to tonight but barely got in. I guess the voters who don't show their work fear the wrath of Twins fans!

[Eris]

Congratulations to Joe Mauer and his family. We were very blessed to have been able to watch him play for so many years. 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

Congratulations to Joe!! Well deserved. This will be something to celebrate all season. 

[ashbury]

I don't know if it's my "favorite", exactly, but when asked for a memory, Phil Cuzzi's name always comes up for me.

A clear cut choice for the Hall in the minds of many.  Congratulations to Joe!

[Richie the Rally Goat]

I have all the feels! Congrats Joe on a most deserved selection!

[D. Hocking]

I have heard a few interviews today of teammates etc. saying how he might even be better human being than ball player.  I guess nothing shocking considering his reputation, but nice to hear.

It ended up being a little closer than I would have liked, but all that matters is the end result.

[JD-TWINS]

I want a photo of ALL 4 St. Paul guys on my basement wall……..hopefully, they get that done this summer and it’s available & it’s for sale.

All 4 TWINS at one point!

Winfield - Morris - Molitor - Mauer……(Paul might need some heels in that photo?)

Congrats to Joe….1st ballot is BIG recognition.

[Lasorda_This_Out]

The day Joe was drafted 1st in the June 2001 Draft, I decided I needed to see this guy in person. Went to the CDH vs Woodbury game in the Minnesota State Baseball tournament at the old Midway Stadium in St. Paul later that afternoon. When Joe and the rest of CDH/Woodbury players came out on the field, literally, literally, Joe looked like a Man amongst Boys.  Can't recall what Joe did at the plate that day but vividly recall a Woodbury guy attempt to steal second (why??). The Cretin second baseman had the ball in his glove before the runner was half way to second.

Highly recommend Jake Mintz's piece today on Joe's story...beautifully written!

( ps: Went to Cretin as well  ;-) )

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/mlb/joe-mauers-hall-of-fame-election-caps-storybook-career

[PDX Twin]

Congrats to a great player, a great Twin, and a great Minnesotan!

Just curious but too lazy to look it up: Is Joe the first player drafted 1-1 to get to the Hall?

[DJL44]

19 minutes ago, PDX Twin said:

Congrats to a great player, a great Twin, and a great Minnesotan!

Just curious but too lazy to look it up: Is Joe the first player drafted 1-1 to get to the Hall?

Griffey Jr and Chipper Jones were also 1-1.

[IaBeanCounter]

3 hours ago, gunnarthor said:

This play. Man. It's a bit bittersweet because the Twins still lost the game. But after that game, Yankee fans flooded Twins' fans blogs and forums and said how great Mauer would look in pinstripes. Boston fans showed up, too. 

Part of me wonders if he would have hit. .400 at Fenway but I'm really glad he stayed. Great, great career.

This is also my favorite play.  I don't believe there is (or was) another catcher the could have retrieved the ball and still get back to the plate.  The Twins didn't win, but Joe gave the Twins a chance.  Congratulations Joe, you earned this honor.

[stringer bell]

1 hour ago, JD-TWINS said:

I want a photo of ALL 4 St. Paul guys on my basement wall……..hopefully, they get that done this summer and it’s available & it’s for sale.

All 4 TWINS at one point!

Winfield - Morris - Molitor - Mauer……(Paul might need some heels in that photo?)

Congrats to Joe….1st ballot is BIG recognition.

 

[jmlease1]

awesome day for Joe Mauer, and very well deserved. what a great player. That MVP season was something else. Mauer was just great to watch out there. Shame that concussions cost him, but even then he was still great. So glad we got to see his whole career here in MN.

[Lefty61]

Terrific day for the Mauer family and Twins fans!   A look back at the Classic SI Covers for Hometown Joe,  hoping SI gets new ownership in time to get Mauer a 3rd cover this summer!  For those heading to Cooperstown I recommend getting a membership to the Hall of Fame museum which gets members free admission and expanded hours to enjoy the museum.  I love seeing the plaque locations on Saturday prior to plaques going up after the induction ceremony.    Congrats #7 !!

[Lefty61]

1 hour ago, DJL44 said:

Griffey Jr and Chipper Jones were also 1-1.

Also Harold Baines.  Chipper and Joe are the only two 1-1s elected to spend their entire career with the team that drafted them!