It was announced that Joe Mauer will announce his retirement Sunday.
15 years of no controversy, no bad behavior, no contract holdouts.
A great role model for kids and a very good Twins player for 15 years.
Thank you Joe for the memories. 
Very good roll model. Thanks Joe.
Will Joe make it to Cooperstown?
Good question.
MVP
6 time all star
3 time batting champion (which no catcher has ever done)
Had he been able to continue catching like his first few years then yes, hands down. But with the injuries and moving to first i’m not so sure.
If he was a Yankee or Dodger or Red Sock, yup he’s in the Hall. A MN Twin with no World Series ring? I doubt it.
S.R.
15 years of no controversy
Except the controversy manufactured by the media and sports rubes.
He deserves a tip of the hat for being a role model, excellent ball player and being a very rare franchise player.
I suspect concussions had a lot to do with his retirement. I sure hope it doesn’t affect his quality of life down the road.
I would agree with Dutch. If he had his numbers over his whole career as a catcher he’s in. Unfortunately, it seems like the concussions slowed him down so I would doubt it very much.
I was at his last game…great way to go out. He and Ken Griffey jr have the best swings I’ve ever seen. Tough to see him retire but he went out on his terms.
A great player with a great story. There are better players out there obviously but being an extremely talented hometown guy playing on his home team and being at the top of all of baseball for a few years made for a great story. Even after a move to 1B the guy still deserved a Gold Glove last year.
Wish nothing but the best for the guy. He’s taken a beating by a lot of people who apparently know much more about baseball than most of us and I just hope he can enjoy life and retirement now. Knowing his personality I doubt we’ll hear hardly anything at all from him because he doesn’t like the spotlight. My guess is if we do it’ll be because a charity is getting money out of it.
Remember, this is an all-around talented guy. He was offered a full scholarship to be QB at Florida State. For those that need a refresher, “QB at Florida State” includes the likes of Jameis Winston (currently in NFL), Charlie Ward (drafted to NFL), Chris Weinke (Heisman winner, NFL QB), Christian Ponder (drafted to NFL), etc. Not just a small college QB. Word has it that since he still has eligibility there are colleges that to this day would let him be QB.
Got the chance to meet him at the Nook the night before the super bowl. We put off asking to get a picture for about a 1/2 because we were chitchatting with him and his wife. I got absolutely zero sense that we were inconveniencing them in any way. Top notch people for sure.
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Joe definately made the right call to play baseball as he would have been one and done in football. he cashed in at the highest point of his career. I realize he donated a ton of money in the community which is great but Canton is likely not going to call. I have not followed my favorite team for years since that failed 2016 silver linings BS. Not sure I will watch ball again until there is a salary cap in baseball. Joe was a solid dude, HOF not so much.
A great player with a great story. There are better players out there obviously but being an extremely talented hometown guy playing on his home team and being at the top of all of baseball for a few years made for a great story. Even after a move to 1B the guy still deserved a Gold Glove last year.
Wish nothing but the best for the guy. He’s taken a beating by a lot of people who apparently know much more about baseball than most of us and I just hope he can enjoy life and retirement now. Knowing his personality I doubt we’ll hear hardly anything at all from him because he doesn’t like the spotlight. My guess is if we do it’ll be because a charity is getting money out of it.
Remember, this is an all-around talented guy. He was offered a full scholarship to be QB at Florida State. For those that need a refresher, “QB at Florida State” includes the likes of Jameis Winston (currently in NFL), Charlie Ward (drafted to NFL), Chris Weinke (Heisman winner, NFL QB), Christian Ponder (drafted to NFL), etc. Not just a small college QB. Word has it that since he still has eligibility there are colleges that to this day would let him be QB.
hate to burst your bubble Dan but FSU is not that impressive and naming garbage NFL qb’s like Winston, Ward, Weinke and Ponder is not helping his case.
He will forever go down as the best slap hitter in baseball.
In the meantime you could stand in and swing a bat from now until spring training and not get a hit.
Jealousy & envy, if you don’t like the guy just stay out of the thread.
His career & numbers speak for themselves he doesn’t need your approval.
He is a pretty cool guy. No controversies….just a good dude who was a good role model. Incredible hitter, and I hope he makes the hall. He played the game with class, not a showboater or a braggart, just a good sport. Thanks for that, Joe.
Except for the time he was accused of stealing signs.
What a joke that was. As if it was taboo to steal signs.
hate to burst your bubble Dan but FSU is not that impressive and naming garbage NFL qb’s like Winston, Ward, Weinke and Ponder is not helping his case.
In the grand scheme of NFL history you’re right, this doesn’t mean a lot. But to be offered a full scholarship for a big-time college football program at a storied school, all when that’s your second sport? I don’t know a lot of HOF-discussion-worthy MLB’ers who who could be “garbage NFL QB’s.”
hate to burst your bubble Dan but FSU is not that impressive and naming garbage NFL qb’s like Winston, Ward, Weinke and Ponder is not helping his case.
He will forever go down as the best slap hitter in baseball.
It sure as hell was around the time he was recruited to play there. Just coming off a national title and consitently finishing in the top 10 of the AP poll. That and they had one of the greatest college football coaches of all time in Bobby Bowden. To be recruited to play football there as their quarterback during that time, pretty much says you are among the top 2-3 in the nation for your class if not #1.
Unless eyeguy is neon deion or bo jackson, yeah I would say jealousy. He was a hell of a Basketball player too, could have played D1 anywhere.
The issue isn’t was he good enough when he was catching, thats almost un-debatable. The question is are his over-all numbers good enough? I don’t think so but we will see.
The issue isn’t was he good enough when he was catching, thats almost un-debatable. The question is are his over-all numbers good enough? I don’t think so but we will see.
Over his whole career I don’t believe they are, but I think the writers will still put most of the value on his numbers while he was catching and vote him in. Personally I don’t believe he should go in.
That being said, he is one of the most respected men in baseball on and off the field and had one helluva big impact on the community. It was a pretty darn good career for “one of us”.
Despite the lack of overall ‘Hall-worthy’ stats, Joe will get into the Hall towards the end of his period of eligibility due to the fact that all of his best seasons came as a catcher. He was one of the best catchers to ever play the game. How many other other catchers have won three batting titles? Zero.
Joe Mauer was the National HS Player of the year, in Football and Baseball. Still the only athlete to ever win both awards, and he chose FSU as a fallback but could have signed with any college he wanted to play football. He never had the killer instinct we expect from top athletes, but I’m quite sure he will end up in the HOF. I’ve never been a huge Mauer fan, but he’s always been a class act and deserving of a great deal of respect imo.
He will get into the HOF not first ballot but he will.
Just always seemed like a really nice guy, that is something to be proud of.
hate to burst your bubble Dan but FSU is not that impressive and naming garbage NFL qb’s like Winston, Ward, Weinke and Ponder is not helping his case.
He will forever go down as the best slap hitter in baseball.
Whoa whoa whoa, let’s not be crazy, Joe Mauer was a great player, but the best slap hitter in baseball history is Ichiro and it’s not even close.
Caught the second part of the press conference after his speech. The more I listened and learned = more and more respect for what Mauer did and the person he is.
Thinking how tough would it be to have that kind of spotlight on you for all those years and how he carried himself.
Concussions are a nasty thing. If he had a couple more years before those injuries he would have been guaranteed HOF. Since his later career wasn’t as good as the first years then it is a fair debate to have.
Not a baseball guy so found the batting title stats cool. 2 national league catchers, both before 1940. Zero american league catchers ever before Joe and he got 3.
If I’m not mistaken I think most of the HOF voters are media guys. I think the players that are good role models and PR guys can influence the voters compared to the players that are considered to be jerks.
It will be interesting how the HOF views players like Torii Hunter or Joe Mauer. Both players put together great careers but not classic HOF careers.
If I’m not mistaken I think most of the HOF voters are media guys
I’m not sure how many or what percentage but yes a lot of the HOF voters are media members, I don’t know if they’r part of the Baseball Writers Association or what. IMO some of those voters let their vote go to their head. Many of them write articles every year explaining why they didn’t vote for a certain player, and they can pretty much use their own agenda and criteria. If I remember right Jack Morris lost a lot of votes for years because he wasn’t always friendly to the media.
Changing subject a little, on the numbers/statistics note: I read how some analytical stat guys from MLB network ran some numbers and Mauer could have gotten another 1,050 at-bats, made an out in every single one of them, and still had a higher career on-base percentage than Johnny Bench, Carlton Fisk, and one other catcher, all in the HOF.
Looking good for Joe to get in on first ballet with most the votes in. Everyone will have an opinion but I win $100 if he makes it. I made the bet two years ago would be first ballet. Now I might of jinxed myself 
Most votes in still have a few weeks and things could change but this is what has been released so far.
1) Adrian Beltre 92%
2) Todd Helton 82.2%
3) Joe Mauer 81.6 %
Tomorrow we should find out the results of the voting,but chances are still looking really good
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