From The Batting Cage To Cooperstown: Catching Up With Joe Mauer's High School Coach

[Lou Hennessy]

Joe Mauer finds himself on the doorstep to baseball's Hall of Fame. His high school coach, Jim O'Neill, is right there with him, as he has been for the past 25 years.

Image courtesy of © David Berding-USA TODAY Sports

"He liked to keep things pretty quiet during the game," said former Cretin-Derham Hall High School baseball coach Jim O'Neill. “It was the same thing while he was at school. He didn't do anything for the attention."

While Joe Mauer started etching his name into the history books thanks to his budding stardom in high school, he always wanted to be treated like any other person. This was the unofficial first impression O’Neill ever picked up regarding the star catcher, who would go on to be one of the best athletes to ever come out of the St. Paul high school that produced the likes of Hall of Famer Paul Molitor, Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke, and local media supernova Sweet Lou Hennessy.

Little did O’Neill know, Joe would become one of the program’s crown jewels, and eventually be inducted into baseball’s Hall of Fame. For the former coach of the Raiders who spent four years training the Twins legend in his youth, it couldn’t happen to a better person.

“I loved seeing him tune out the pressure of having 15 scouts at any given game,” O’Neill recounted. “He would say to the other players taking batting practice in the cage with him, ‘Hey, don’t look at me. I think they’re here to see you.’”

O’Neill has been close with Mauer ever since, and he’s seen the Twins legend grow on and off the field for the last 25 years. From winning CDH’s last state title for baseball in 2001, to being drafted with the first overall pick, to marrying his wife and starting a family, Mauer has had his coach in his corner through every step in his storybook life.

“I can’t think of a person that could accomplish what Joe did with such grace and humility,” O’Neill said. “That’s what will always stand out about Joe. He did it the right way.”

For Mauer, doing things the right way was foundational to how he treated others, even before stardom. A new children’s book, The Right Thing To Do: The Joe Mauer Story was co-created with local sports broadcaster Joe Schmit, and shines a light on the compassion, inclusion and generosity that Mauer has lived by for his entire life.
“He was just like how he’s portrayed in the book,” O’Neill attests. “And he still is to this day.”

Proceeds from the book go to two local non-profit organizations. Highland Friendship Club (highlandfriendshipclub.org) serves individuals with disabilities by providing a range of opportunities to develop lifelong skills, friendships and connections within their community, and Thumbs Up brings awareness to youth mental health initiatives (thumbsupformentalhealth.org).

Highland Friendship Club, in particular, has been near and dear to Mauer’s heart for years. From hosting bowling tournament fundraisers, to inviting the group to countless Twins games, and even honoring them with the chance to sing the national anthem before his Twins Hall of Fame ceremony last season, Joe has been a close friend to the organization. He’s always been about bringing his community along with him as his illustrious career progressed.

O’Neill experienced this loyalty firsthand, when Mauer invited him to attend All-Star weekend in 2009. Having his high school coach throw to him was the defining factor for Mauer to accept his invitation to participate in that year’s Home Run Derby.

“It was a really special weekend for me, and not just in terms of what I got to experience. Yes, it was incredible to be on the field, get treated like a big-leaguer and sit at a dinner table with guys like Derek Jeter and Albert Pujols,” O’Neill said. “But what was even better was hearing the way those guys talked about Joe. They called him a class act and a truly special ball player for the whole weekend.”

That’s the kind of company Mauer is going to find himself keeping come July 21, when he is officially inducted into baseball's Hall of Fame. After surpassing the 75% threshold in his first year on the ballot, Mauer will become the newest Twins legend to get a bronze plaque in Cooperstown. 

“It’s an incredible experience to be there. I went when Paul Molitor got in because he was a teammate of mine in high school,” O’Neill said. “It’s exciting to think about Joe standing in front of everyone on that stage, with the best players who ever lived. And he’s going to belong up there with them.”

Joe belongs in that hallowed museum for countless reasons--not just for his incredible career on the field, but for his generosity and compassion off of it. Sure, there’s no character clause for getting into the Hall of Fame, but there’s a karmic fate that reels in worthy personalities sooner or later. 

Knowing Joe, he’s going to bring a lot of folks into the celebration with him--especially his former coach, who has become a treasured friend. Whether he likes it or not, the spotlight will be shining brightly on the St. Paul legend.  

“I hope it highlights his ties to St. Paul,” O’Neill said. “Joe was the hometown kid who did right by us all.”

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[Heiny]

Great article honoring a great man.  And high school coach gets a little credit for helping mold a young man into an outstanding human being.  I am thrilled for Joe and can only hope that more young people take notice and follow in his footsteps.  But what huge shoes to fill.

[Squirrel]

3 hours ago, Lou Hennessy said:

and local media supernova Sweet Lou Hennessy

Lol ... this was funny ... way to self promote

[TwinsHater1991]

Excellent article! Really highlights how important Mauer was to St. Paul and Minnesota as a whole. On top of that, he was a heckin' of a ballplayer!