Revisiting The Dominant Prime of Joe Mauer 

Joe was the Only Player to be on The MLB the Show Cover, Twice! Just felt like saying that for the first comment 😅😂

Y’all don’t know how much Mauer meant to the Twins fanbase. I was there, folks. This was my hometown childhood team. To have one of the best players in baseball, probably the best at his position, playing for his hometown team and ONLY his hometown team…it’s just not something that happens. Not “this doesn’t happen anymore with free agency,” no it just doesn’t happen at all. Minnesota will always care about anyone who chooses to stay despite their incredible skills and success. It’s the reason why Prince will be THE Minnesota musician. Sure, Bob Dylan was born in Hibbing and he’s one of the definitive artists of the 20th century (I know that might sound ridiculous to younger people, but trust me on that one), but he came to prominence in NYC. Prince? Born here, grew up here, lived here, recorded here, built the scene here, always came back here, and died here. I have no doubt that Mauer could have played for a bigger market team, and it speaks to his character that he always stuck around. Also, some other fun facts: him and Morneau were roommates coming through the organization. They were the “M&M Boys.” We also had promotional Joe Mauer sideburn nights. And if you didn’t think Mauer could possibly get anymore Midwestern, he started in milk commercials and had an endorsed ice cream novelty. Enjoy that alongside your (Harmon) Killebrew root beer!

Lifelong Twins fan here. This was a perfect video to do Mauer’s career justice. I remember people in MN being so frustrated with his ‘lack’ of production during the latter part of his career, I think mainly due to how high everybody knew his ceiling was. I never knew the extent of how debilitating his injuries were for him. It makes what he ended up doing all the more impressive. Also, I remember being in college and going with a friend to this cold as hell, rainy, night game in April to see Joe get his 2000th hit. Was definitely worth freezing our butts off lmao

Should absolutely be a HOF. Maybe not first ballot but he’ll get there.

Growing up in Minnesota in the prime of Joe Mauer is the reason I love baseball today. As a Joe myself I played catcher just to be like Mauer. My parents would volunteer at twins fest where I got to go to the Metrodome and run around on the field and help with different stands and games for the fest. One year when i was in elementary school I won a coloring contest at twins fest and got a twins jersey with my name on it and I got Joe Mauer, Justin Morneau, and Joe Nathans signature. Until I watched this video I never realized how lucky I was to be able to watch Joe Mauer in his prime. Great video!

Mauer is without a doubt a HOF’er, a first ballot one in my eyes. Anybody that says he isn’t a hall of famer is delusional. Anyways, great video as always! 👍

Because of that one dude who comment about how his tone get high every end of the sentence, now i hate his voice i didn't even notice it before.

HOFer. No doubt. Top 10 catcher.

Hot Take- at his best he was considerably better than Posey

Damn! What a class act!! Joe Mauer was a truly outstanding player. Even though I am not a Twins fan, I’ve always been a Mauer fan. His performance on the field was certainly incredible; as were his statistics and awards. 3 Batting Titles , 5 Silver Sluggers, and an American League MVP are extremely impressive accomplishments. However, those accomplishments in addition to simultaneously winning 3 Gold Glove awards is the stuff of legends. Especially when you also factor in that he was a catcher. The Catcher position is one of the three most difficult and taxing defensive positions on the field (Center Fielder & Shortstop being the other two). Actually, catcher is even harder than those two positions. I knew as I was watching him play during his career that he was something special and he is definitely a first ballot Hall of Famer! He was also a very humble guy who always carried himself with class. He always conducted himself like a true professional and he played his entire career with the same team he was drafted on as the Round 1 first pick! That’s literally unheard of these days. Thanks for the memories Joe!

A lot of people don't realize that he had D1 offers in 3 different sports. Could've been a QB for FSU for Bowden but he ultimately chose baseball. Mauer is arguably one of the greatest high school athletes of all time. Dude was the #1 ranked football player in the country lol. But most importantly he is just an incredible person that doesn't care about the money or the fame. We are so glad he was drafted by the Twins. it's almost like a Lebron type story. growing up in the same state that drafts you at #1 and having a HOF career.. Joe Mauer and his awesome side burns are all time greatness. I really hope he gets into the HOF this first year!

Whenever I think of Joe in present day I think of Freedie Freeman. Double machine, line-drive hitter. Maybe Freedie is a "what if" to what Joe's 1B career would look like.

I love the MTC content but can you please work on the upward inflection in your voice, it gets kind of tough to listen to at points. Can be a geeat channel, just gotta work on delivery.

Joe has been and always will be my favorite player.

Not even a Twins fan but I love this man.

As a young kid from Minnesota, Joe and Justin were my first ever favorite players and the reason that I am a baseball fan today. Joe should be remembered for his incredible prime and this video brought me back there. What a career we got to witness.

Should be in the HoF. You cannot talk about Minnesota without talking about Minnesota Joe!

There were jokes made by Minnesota natives while Tavaris Jackson was the starting quarterback for the Vikings that Joe Mauer was the best quarterback in Minnesota.

He made it in. First Ballot HOF! He deserved it.

Joe Mauer is a player I had heard good things about before his MLB career started…he had a decent 15yr career with some amazing individual yrs…and now many are pushing for his induction in the HoF. The crazy thing for me is that I don’t remember any significant thing that he did as a player…I’ve become a casual fan as I got older, but it’s like the Twins and Mauer just didn’t exist in these past 20yrs…

Joe Mauer, David Wright, Grady Sizemore is the three headed monster of what if for me. Tony Conigliaro is also on that list for me, but that's a name passed down to me from my dad that I have grown to known as if i watched him play.

Joe is on made the cut? Well played Mauer

Love the vid. Those kids will remember that forever.

Wonderful tribute. Hope we see him in Cooperstown soon. One nitpick - in the sequence of minor league images, you have the New Britain Rock Cats as the Midwest League. They were the Double-A Eastern League.

As a Lefty hitting, right handed throwing catcher without much pop in high school, Joe Mauer was everything I dreamed to be. Excellent defense, trusted by the pitching staff, and a machine at the plate. I have nothing but the utmost respect for the Mauer and the Twins for keeping him behind the plate, it was absolutely an inspiration for me.

I remember going to a Twins game that the Twins were tied bottom of the 9th and Mauer came to bat. My girlfriend says "he's gonna hit a homerun", I turn to her and say "Mauer isn't really a homerun hitter but he could get a hit". Right after that exchange Mauer goes yard to walk off. I say to my girlfriend "I was wrong, you totally called that, I'm thuroughly impressed". Joe Mauer was absolutely clutch. I'm not sure if he's a HOF, he'd get my vote, but he was one of the most clutch players I've ever seen.

Twins fan here! You did do him justice! When I was 13, I got to see him and Morneau walk by walking out to a game. My friend and I waved to both of them, both of which looked at us. Morneaux didn’t give us the time of day, but Mauer smiled and waved. Needless to say we were ecstatic. Not only a great player, but a great human!

I was born in 1999, and my dad was a lifelong Minnesota sports fan (to this day, I’m used to disappointment every year). Growing up, Joe Mauer was my idol. Had a couple of his jerseys, a bobble head that I cherished, and #7 became my favorite number, all thanks to Joe. Without a doubt a HOF’er.

I love this dude's content but I can't stand his rising inflection at the end of LITERALLY EVERY SENTENCE out of this dude's mouth. Don't believe me? Just re-listen how every single word at the end of each sentence is pronounced.

I owe my love of baseball to mauer. He is the peak of minnesota sports in my honest opinion, i loved growing up watching him

With a prime that long and at CATCHER no less, he ABSOLUTELY deserves to be in the HOF. I dont even know that much about him since Im a fan of a different team, but first or second ballot is what he deserves for such crazy skill.

Hes one of the most amazing humans on earth.. we love you joe

“Joe Mauer grew up in St Paul Minnesota” *shows three cuts of downtown Minneapolis* Lol. Other than that great video

Dude couldn’t see and was still a league average hitter. That’s nuts

I think Salvador Perez's 50 home run season was the greatest catching season of all time. He was still good defensively. Had a good average, great OPS, WAR, RBI, and slugging. While playing in one of the largest stadiums in Kauffman. I'm a biased Royals fan too unfortunately. Mauer was by far one of the 5 best all around Catchers of all time I though.

Mauer reminds me of Don Mattingly's career from about 20 years prior. Mattingly was amazing for about 5-6 years before back injuries screwed him over. Even with the bad back, he was still a gold glove defender & still a good (but not great) hitter.

Watching this video, I'm sadly reminded on how Kirby Puckett's career (and then life) was cut short.

Best 2 strike hitter i have ever seen

For anyone to young for that 09 year. It was silly. Bro it was just insane. He made it look so easy

I love ur content

Definitely something special going on at Creten-Durham Hall High School.

The creators intonations and inflections at the end of almost every sentence was driving me nuts. Other than that it was a good video… but that’s basically half the video!

me watching after he was inducting crying as a twins fan in happiness I'm so happy he's in the hall of fame

Dude good video, but your cadence is murderous

100 percent Joe Mauer gets into the HOF he's amazing...

Grady Sizemore needs a video like this

I cant believe hes not a surefire hall of famer in some peoples eyes. Im a mariners fan, but he has always been one of my favorite players and I really hope to see him Enshrined next year

Well played, MTC

HOF'er 100% in my book. One of the best catchers of all time.

Joe Mauer with a beard is crazy

Good analysis. Mauer should be a HOFer based on his peak which was spent primarily at catcher. Judged this way he compares favorably with other HOF catchers.

Video was great, but what happened to all the highlight videos you used to have up on your channel?

He’s in

Im a Cubs fan, so I have no skin in this game. But Mauer was a total freak man. Guy was probly the best athlete that walked onto the field, no matter what sport he played. Is he a HOFer? Id say Yes. Unfortunately, I dont the the numbers agree. The problem is the positioning. IF he gets in, it would need to be as a catcher. He certainly had enough success as a catcher. But maybe not enough longevity. Ive always thought the guy was just a ridiculous talent, so my vote is YES. Lets see what they do. My guess is he will get in eventually, but it will take awhile.

Mauer was a beast. Swing reminds me a little bit of Luis Arraez

single right up the middle Joe Mauer special

I wasn't sure he deserved to be in the Hall of fame but I think was wrong. Great career

You make great content but man that cadence is grating. Everything sounds like a question with the upward emphasis on the last word of each sentence.

If you read this please don’t make the last word of every statement louder. Love the videos though ❤️

Goat

Was he one of the best catchers of his generation? Yes, without question a Hall of Famer

I’m a Tigers fan and Joe is still my second favorite player of all time. Definitely a HOFer

I loved Bobby Boudan af FSU.

Your speech pattern is the most exhausting thing I’ve ever listened to

one strikeout in 4 years is unbelievable

as a lifelong twins fan. Mauer is my baseball GOAT

Hard to dislike JM but if he wasn’t in the AL Ichiro would have 2 more batting titles.

Unpopular take probably but here goes. Loved Mauer until he moved over to 1st base. While at catcher he was undoubtedly a HOF'er. After moving over to 1B he was never the same providing much less value to the team. Then bring in all the injury stuff and the high salary I was pretty sour on him for awhile. That said he's for sure an all time Twin and probably deserves a HOF nod somewhere down the line.

some constructive criticism, please change up the cadence of your voice. you end every line with the same rising kind of tone and pitch and it’s all I can hear now.

Do a video on Kirby Pucket

Joe mauer was my favorite baseball player as a kid, too bad I only remember his later career when he was considered “an overpaid singles hitter”

The thing about that 50% caught stealing rate in double A is as soon as word gets out that you have that kind of arm, all but the absolute best runners are going to stop trying to steal on you, and even the ones who do will be far more selective as to when and with what pitchers. Edit: Holy shit, 53% in a big league season?!

it's only a question of which ballot imo

“Joe Mauer grew up in Saint Paul, Minnesota, but we can only find pictures of Minneapolis.”

Bro ends his sentences in all caps.

“…so he could play for a legend, Bobby BO-den….”

My mom’s babysitter was Joe Mauer

1 SO in 4 years of high school is ridiculous

When I think of a Joe Mauer HR I think of one to the opposite field. Not something you’d imagine from a lefty.

Joe Mauer is one of the greatest catcher's ever.

The uptalking is hard to get past

The Twins didn't draft Mark Prior because they knew he wouldn't sign with them if they did. Also, Morneau was traded at the deadline, not in the off-season

We payed him almost the same exact price we paid for Target Field on that contract.

As a Mets fan, I understand why Adam Rubin (whose ballot most likely prompted you to make this video) would vote for David Wright over Joe Mauer. But in my book, Mauer and Wright are in the same boat in terms of career arcs and total WAR, so it doesn’t make sense to me to vote for one of them but exclude the other.

It pisses me off then this dude says “AB” instead of at-bat

Great video that does a lot of justice for Joe Mauer. But... you could go without emphasizing EVERY other WORD when you're TALKING.

Hey MTC - probably a me problem, but using the same vocal inflections every sentence made this pretty un-listenable. The information you provide is great. Keep working!

With zero doubt. He's a hall of famer as a player. But his stats won't add up.

His career is still what if, but he's a HOFer now

Why does he enunciate the end of his sentences like thiiiiis

The intonation of your voice is unlistenable. At the end of every sentence, there’s this weird sing-songy upward inflection.

He could have been the next Gwynn.

Day 1 of asking for Ted Williams

Clearly he liked the #16 so I wonder why he went with #7?

Oh Joe. He played qb at college. Could’ve played 3rd. Could’ve played 1st; but as a catcher he got paid more. So I get it. Doing what he did as a catcher. Moving positions would’ve cost him 10 to 20 million dollars in his career. He would’ve been left with only 210 million dollars today. Poor guy.

Great player but his peak was so short.

Hey, I loved this video since Joe was someone we all looked up to. But I think you need to work on your delivery, you are ending every sentence with a rising inflection, along with extending the last syllable, and it can get kind of grating. Your tone should be more decisive, since you are telling us the facts and what you think. It's like you are asking us questions all the time, and makes you sound unsure of your content. It sounds cliche to say, but listen to Jon Bois and any of the Secret Base documentaries to hear how they phrase things.

HoF for sure......at some point!

Who's better Mauer or Posey?

Not a single top comment on the supposed 1 strike-out in 4 years of highschool?????!!!?!