Joe Mauer (Hall of Fame, 2024)


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

Joe 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.

Minnesota Twins

Mauer was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in 2001 and he spent his first few years with them in the minors. He played with them in 35 games in 2004. In his first full season (2005), he 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 followed his rookie year with another strong season. In 2006, he won his first batting title and a Silver Slugger award. He finished the season with 181 hits, 36 doubles, 84 RBIs, 54 strikeouts to 79 walks, and a .347 batting average in 140 games. His batting average dropped to .293 in 2007. He played in only 109 games that season and he had 119 hits, 27 doubles, and 60 RBIs.

Mauer won his second batting title, another Silver Slugger award, and his first of three Gold Gloves in 2008. He finished the season with 176 hits, 31 doubles, 84 RBIs, 50 strikeouts to 84 walks, and a .328 batting average in 146 games.

In 2009, Mauer was named the AL MVP and he won another batting title, Silver Slugger award, and Gold Glove. He led the AL in batting average, on-base-percentage and OPS and he had career highs in hits, home runs, batting average, on-base-percentage, and OPS. He finished the season with 191 hits, 30 doubles, 28 home runs, 96 RBIs, 63 strikeouts to 76 walks, 365 batting average, .444 on-base-percentage, and 1.031 OPS in 138 games.

A fourth Silver Slugger award and a third Gold Glove came in 2010, shortly after Mauer signed an eight-year, $184 million contract extension with the Twins. He finished the season with 167 hits, a career high 43 doubles, 74 RBIs, and a .327 batting average.

Mauer played in just 82 games in 2011 and he had 85 hits and a .287 batting average. The following season, he was back to his top form, batting .319. He finished the 2012 season with 174 hits, 31 doubles, 85 RBIs, and 88 strikeouts to 90 walks in 147 games.

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.

Awards and MLB Records

  • AL Batting Title (3 times)
  • AL MVP in 2009
  • Gold Glove (3)
  • Silver Slugger (5)
  • Led AL in on-base-percentage (2 times)
  • Led AL catchers in caught stealing percentage (2 times)
  • Led AL catchers in fielding percentage (3 times)

Career Statistics

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 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 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 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