REFLECTIONS

It is true, Joe Mauer is one of the classiest of any Major League Baseball player to wear the Twins stripes.

It kind of choked me up, too, to see Mauer choked up when he delivered his Twins Hall of Fame induction speech prior to an MLB game with the Arizona Diamond Backs last year at Target Field in Minneapolis.

He also becomes eligible for the Cooperstown Hall of Fame after completing five years in the Major Leagues. This is his first time on the ballot.

It is very possible that he will crush the first ballot. In his 15 years in baseball, Mauer accomplished some amazing things. Mauer was the 2009 American League Most Valuable Player and went to the All-Star game six times.

He won five Silver Slugger awards, three batting titles and three Gold Glove honors.

I have been a Major League Baseball fan since I was a kid in the pre-10 era. Some of my favorite players have been: Kirby Puckett, Hank Aaron, Harmon Killebrew, Willie Mays, Stan Musial, Roger Maris, Mickey Mantle, Willie McCovey, Torii Hunter, Bert Blyleven and JOE MAUER.

With media connections, I was able to get closer to close to Joe Mauer. I was in the dugout when Mauer was presented his first Silver Slugger award. He proudly stood between Hall of Famers Rod Carew and Tony Oliva.

As he posed for dozens of photos on the field, the fans gave him a Standing Ovation, one of many he has received during his career.

Mauer then strode back to the dugout. I slipped in front of several other dignitaries and gave Mauer a firm handshake. “Thank you very much, I appreciate it,” he replied sincerely.

I also remember seeing Mauer take the field after he was given the Most Valuable Player award and after he received a new $100 million contract.

Mauer was posing for All-Star photos when the game was played at Target Field in 2014. I was lucky enough to stand in line and have my photo taken with the future Hall of Famer.

My son Troy also stood in line many times to get an autograph of Mauer. Soon after his twin girls were born, I saw Mauer and asked him: “How are your twins doing?” Mauer replied: “Just great,” as he signed a team bat.

Mauer is a super protege for future players and current young Little Leaguers. He has all the talent in the world, establishing a career .306 batting average. He was also known as one of smartest hitters in baseball.

Minnesota Twins President Dave St. Peter tells a funny story about Mauer being coached by former Twins slugger Harmon Killebrew. During Spring Training one year, St. Peter was standing behind the batting cage aside of Killebrew. They were watching Mauer hit some ropes into the outfield.

Number 3 (Killebrew) yelled at Mauer. “Well Joe, you have the hitting down pat, now you can work on your autograph.” Killebrew always took pride in his signature.

Mauer has become quite a family man, having twin daughters Maren and Emily and a boy named Chip. Mauer, in his Hall of Fame speech, also spent considerable time praising his late father. An MLB.com article on the ceremony captures the flavor of Mauer’s speech: “Growing up in the backyard of Minnesota Twins territory here, it’s just been an unbelievable ride, really,” Mauer said. “Sometimes, retiring, you reflect on it. It’s like, ‘Did that really just happen?’ It goes by so fast. But I enjoyed every minute of it and always knew the opportunity I had and always wanted to maximize it. Fifteen years goes pretty fast.”

My close, personal friend says one of the best catchers in MLB history, Johnny Bench of the Cincinnati Reds told him that Mauer is one of the best ever and belongs in the Cooperstown Hall of Fame.

Congratulations Joe! There are not very many who play the game who are as classy as you.