After an iconic career in Minnesota, is Joe Mauer a Hall of Famer?

MINNEAPOLIS, MN-SEPTEMBER 11: Joe Mauer #7 of the Minnesota Twins celebrates following the game against the New York Yankees on September 11, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Twins defeated the Yankees 10-5. (Photo by Brace Hemmelgarn/Minnesota Twins/Getty Images) /

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – APRIL 27: Minnesota Twins First base Joe Mauer (7) warms up during a MLB game between the Minnesota Twins and Cincinnati Reds on April 27, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, MN. The Reds defeated the Twins 15-9. (Photo by Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Why Mauer Should Be In The Hall of Fame

In his prime, he’s up there for one of the best hitting catchers of all time. His numbers were insanely good. He hit over .300 in five out of the first seven years of his career and didn’t hit under .280 until his 11th year in the league.

While playing the most difficult position in the sport, Mauer won three batting titles including back to back years in 2008 and 2009. His 2009, MVP season was one for the ages.

He hit .365/.444/.587 with 28 home runs, 96 RBI and a 1.031 OPS. That stat line is insanity! Oh yeah, he also won a gold glove that year, something he did three times in his career as well.

If Joe Mauer never played another game the six-time All-Star would finish with a .306 lifetime batting average over 2,000 hits and a .827 OPS. 2014, the first year he hit under .280 at 31 years old was the year he switched to a first baseman.

Yet, six All-Star games, three gold gloves, three silver sluggers and an MVP is still a valid case for Mauer at the catcher position.

In MLB history only nine players have 2,000+ hits, three batting titles, a .300+ average, a .390 OBP, and a .800+ OPS. Those guys are Ty Cobb, Tony Gwynn, Rogers Hornsby, Stan Musial, Honus, Wagner, Rod Carew, Ted Williams, Wade Boggs, and Joe Mauer. That’s pretty elite company.

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