Mauer's Farewell Letter To Fans

Always a class act in every sense of the word, especially how he dealt with adversity over his contract after his quality of play was so clearly marginalized by injury. I suspect 15 year's worth of opposing players would back this statement. 

Having said that, make no mistake, he earned EVERY penny of the combined contracts over his career.... far less early and too much late.

I suspect that the vast majority of MLB players would not have been able to be as productive for as long with post concussive symptoms (would have been out of baseball in less than 2 years)

We were more lucky to have him than him us.

Did I say 'were'? I meant 'are' so lucky to have him, because he will be a wonderful ambassador for the team in some capacity for decades to come.

Nice guys finish first. Now, to the Hall of Fame for Joe.

Unless he goes into coaching, his children may find that baseball will only be a footnote in their relationship with him.  My dad was just dad the farmer, the golfer, the American Legion guy.  It wasn't until long after he was gone that I realized how much of a badass he was in his twenties.

And that is how it goes with most, or at least how it is going with me as well.  Circle of life stuff.  I admire the decision.  Holding on is easier than letting go.

Ranking for Twins all-time MVPs - I put Mauer 3rd:

1.  Puckett

2.  Kiilebrew.

3.  Mauer

4.  Oliva (career shortened by injuries, but remains continuing ambassador for the team)

5.  Carew (Great Years here , but went to Angels)

6.  Blyleven (also played for other teams during career)

7.  Johan Santana (dominant pitcher moved on to other teams)

Unless he goes into coaching, his children may find that baseball will only be a footnote in their relationship with him.  My dad was just dad the farmer, the golfer, the American Legion guy.  It wasn't until long after he was gone that I realized how much of a badass he was in his twenties.

 

And that is how it goes with most, or at least how it is going with me as well.  Circle of life stuff.  I admire the decision.  Holding on is easier than letting go.

That moment of them running out to first base for his last game was pretty neat (if one uses Mauer speak).   They will always be able to look back and see how they were an important part of his big day.   

Whoever planned all of the unofficial Joe Mauer activities for his last game deserves a bonus.

Bye Joe. 

Unless you'd like to be hitting coach........

What class act as individual and person. This is done out love for his family and wife that he reduces the further risk of head injury and long lasting effects from head injury. Hopefully the injuries he has will not effect him in the future. The players like him are very rare exception of playing at high level and being quality person on the field and off the field. I wish him and his family well and feel great full for watching him through his career.

I am disappointed that he finished the letter with "All the best" instead of "See you in the funny papers."

It's very sad to see Joe retire from the Twins. However, I'm glad he retired as a Twin. And I'm sure this will be a great thing for his family.

As a native Minnesotan, I was always proud that Joe was one of us -- especially that he was from my home town along with three other HOFers. For a brief period, he was the best player in the world. Probably the best hitting catcher ever, and a gold glove defender. He was the best player on a great Twins team that won a lot of games and made the playoffs regularly. The Twins also benefited from selling a lot of his jerseys. But even more than his importance to the franchise -- as stated above a few times -- he was a class act that made us all proud.

Best wishes to Joe and his family.

Clearly one of the best players, and person, to wear a Twins uniform.

Best of luck in retirement Joe.

Could Joe Mauer and Tony Oliva be more similar? Some dumbfounding similarities in their career numbers:

•15 year careers with the Twins and only the Twins.

•3 batting titles each.

•Surefire HOF careers derailed by devastating injuries.

.306 career BA for Mauer, .304 for Oliva.

•923 career RBI for Mauer, 947 for Oliva.

•.830 career OPS for Oliva, .827 for Mauer.

•Oliva wins on HR, 220-143, and All Stars, 8-6.

•Mauer wins on hits, 2123 to 1917, and WAR, 55 to 43

•I mean, really, one wore 6, the other 7.

Entirely different stories, but two of the best to wear the uni, regardless of what Cooperstown may think: and top-class acts to boot. Hope Joe will still be getting in on the act the way Tony does at 80, 40 years from now.

Followed TwinsDaily for years..glad to join the community!

Thought occurred to me today after reflecting on Joe Maurer's retirement announcement.

Minnesota Twins have a vacancy at the First Base coaching position.

How cool would it be if they were to hire Joe to fill that spot in 2019?

Not rocket science...Joe knows how it works...would command incredible respect from both the Twins young studs and MLB opponents? Bonus: get to see Mr. # 7 for many more years in uniform!

Do it FalVine!

Thanks..

Lasorda_This_Out

First off Doc, thank you for the sight you give.

I have mentioned before that my Dad was a Minor League catcher. If he would have had my stick or I would have had his glove,,,,,,,,,unknown.

Hundreds and beyond hours of picking his brain, trying to learn the game from his side. Tiny things that make or break a player. That is why after 15 years of getting a check of some sort he spent the next 15 coaching youth baseball. His retirement from that was based only on not wanting to seem biased one way or the other on me.(or he was afraid of what home life would be if he did the right thing and I was the backup!)

Somewhere in the 80's (I was done) he told me I had come over to watch a game. I went and watched with him. No idea, but Carlton Fisk was catching for the White Sox. About the 7th inning he looked at me and said "now you know why he is the best catcher ever" Dad was a huge fan of the big red machine in the 70's. ???? What about Bench I asked. His reply was Bench had a stick and the arm with a flair but give me Fisk every day.

Joe Mauer is the only guy I have ever seen who Dad might have liked better. From all those hours of gleaning info and all the other things I have learned to look for IMHO Joe was the best catcher I have ever seen. I was born in 69 so I have seen a few good ones and a few HOF's

Side note, I asked Dad who was the best he ever played against. Took him about 1/10th of a second to say Frank Howard. I asked him who was the best player ever and it took him about the same amount of time to say Stan Musial.

Good luck Joe, you did us proud!!!

Great post.

Both Mauer and Oliva should be in the Hall of Fame - although I agree both are not first ballot types.  If they had played for the Yankees, there wouldn't even be a question.   Compare Joe's accomplishments to Gary Carter who is in the Hall of Fame and Thurmon Munson who is not but many claim should be there.   Catcher is an undervalued position in the Hall of Fame.   Yes I know Munson was a Yankee./

So long Joe.

Bring up Munson!

Munson> Mauer> sweet wine>Twitter

Could Joe Mauer and Tony Oliva be more similar? Some dumbfounding similarities in their career numbers:

 

•15 year careers with the Twins and only the Twins.

 

•3 batting titles each.

 

•Surefire HOF careers derailed by devastating injuries.

 

.306 career BA for Mauer, .304 for Oliva.

 

•923 career RBI for Mauer, 947 for Oliva.

 

•.830 career OPS for Oliva, .827 for Mauer.

 

•Oliva wins on HR, 220-143, and All Stars, 8-6.

 

•Mauer wins on hits, 2123 to 1917, and WAR, 55 to 43

 

•I mean, really, one wore 6, the other 7.

 

Entirely different stories, but two of the best to wear the uni, regardless of what Cooperstown may think: and top-class acts to boot. Hope Joe will still be getting in on the act the way Tony does at 80, 40 years from now.

Excellent post, and Oliva - in my homerish opinion - should be in the hall. At least Joe's got that decade at catcher to balance out the horrible deficiency in voters' minds of not being a Yankee.

Followed TwinsDaily for years..glad to join the community!

Thought occurred to me today after reflecting on Joe Maurer's retirement announcement.

Minnesota Twins have a vacancy at the First Base coaching position.

How cool would it be if they were to hire Joe to fill that spot in 2019?

Not rocket science...Joe knows how it works...would command incredible respect from both the Twins young studs and MLB opponents? Bonus: get to see Mr. # 7 for many more years in uniform!

 

Do it FalVine!

 

Thanks..

 

Lasorda_This_Out

Great handle. Welcome to the site.

Very much in Joe Mauer's character to wait until the end of the 2018 season to formally announce his retirement. No official final game other than the donning of the "tools of ignorance" for the last time which was the biggest hint ever. It was obvious through his entire career that Joe Mauer is not a "limelight" person and would not have enjoyed playing for a team such as the Yankees. I do hope he is able to remain in the game in some capacity and I think he would be great working with younger players.