Joe Mauer, Catcher and First Base, Retired


Date of Birth: 4/19/1983
Birthplace: St. Paul, Minnesota

Joe Mauer is the only major league catcher to have won a batting title three times. Mauer was already a star player in high school and he was chosen the USA Today High School Player of the Year in 2001. The previous year, he won the same award for his accomplishments as a football player. Mauer's batting average in his senior year in high school was an impressive .605.

Mauer was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2001 and he played with them in 35 games in 2004. In his first full season (2005), Mauer had impressive numbers for a rookie, with a .294 batting average and 144 hits, 26 doubles, 9 home runs, and 13 stolen bases in 131 games.

Mauer started winning major league awards in 2006 when he won his first American League batting title and a Silver Slugger award. Although he was given a four-year contract in February, 2007, it wasn't until the 2008 season that Mauer again won awards. This time it was his second batting title and Silver Slugger award and his first of three Gold Gloves. In 2009, Mauer was named the AL MVP and he won another batting title, Silver Slugger award, and Gold Glove. A fourth Silver Slugger award and a third Gold Glove came in 2010, shortly after he signed an eight-year, $184 million contract extension with the Twins.

Mauer again won a Silver Slugger award in 2013. He spent part of the season on the DL with concussion symptoms. In 2013, he batted .324 with 144 hits and 35 doubles in 113 games.

Starting with the 2014 season, Mauer moved to first base. He finished the season with 126 hits, 27 doubles, and a .277 batting average in 120 games.

In 2015, Mauer played in a career high 158 games. He batted a career low .265 with 157 hits, 34 doubles, and 66 RBIs. As a first baseman, he made 86 assists, 113 double plays, 1,151 putouts, and 5 errors in 137 games.

Mauer batted .261 with 129 hits, 22 doubles, and 49 RBIs in 134 games in 2016. Defensively, at first base, he made 53 assists, 91 double plays, 811 putouts, and 2 errors in 95 games and he had a .998 fielding percentage.

Mauer had a comeback season in 2017, batting .305 with 160 hits, 36 doubles, 71 RBIs, and 83 strikeouts to 66 walks in 141 games. Defensively, as the Twins' first baseman in 125 games, Mauer made 63 assists, 90 double plays, 947 putouts, and 2 errors. He had a .998 fielding percentage.

Mauer finished the 2018 season with 137 hits, 27 doubles, 48 RBIs, and a .282 batting average in 127 games. Defensively, as a first baseman in 90 games, he made 61 assists, 56 double plays, 633 putouts, and 3 errors.

Mauer retired on November 9, 2018.

Statistics for Mauer in 15 seasons in the major leagues include:

  • 7 seasons with a batting average over .300, with a high of .365 in 2009
  • 7 seasons with over 150 hits, with a high of 191 in 2009
  • 8 seasons with 30 or more doubles, with a high of 43 in 2010

Career batting statistics for Mauer through 2018 include:

  • 1,858 games played
  • 2,123 hits
  • 428 doubles
  • 143 home runs
  • 923 RBIs
  • 1,034 strikeouts to 939 walks
  • .306 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Mauer as a catcher through 2018 include:

  • 921 games played
  • 323 assists
  • 5,831 putouts
  • 30 errors
  • .332 caught stealing percentage
  • .995 fielding percentage

Career fielding statistics for Mauer as a first baseman through 2018 include:

  • 603 games played
  • 376 assists
  • 481 double plays
  • 4,873 putouts
  • 19 errors
  • .996 fielding percentage

Charitable Work

Mauer has worked with various charities, including Friends of St. Paul Baseball, Highland Friendship Club, Gillette Children's Specialty HealthCare, and TwinsCare.

Personal Life

Mauer and his wife Maddie were married on December 1, 2012. They have twin daughters.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Joe Mauer
ESPN Sports - Joe Mauer