JOE MAUER

There are moments in sports that you want to just frame and hang on your wall for the entire world to see. Sunday September 30^thwas one such moment. It was the end of the baseball season for the Minnesota Twins and quite possibly the end of Joe Mauer’s playing days. Joe was the quintessential hero of so many baseball fans from the Midwest. A home grown boy who won our hearts many years ago and then cracked them open just a little bit on that last day when he stood there in his beloved catcher’s gear and doffed his cap for the last time. A class act, by a classy baseball player, who will be sorely missed.

As a twins fan our emotions haven’t had to many chances to swell over the years. Oh, I remember the twins of 87 and 91. I got to go to my first and most likely last World Series game. Those series wins were two Cinderella moments in four years that are etched into my memory. We had our Kirby, our Kent and our Jack Morris back then to pay homage too. There was the game five home run by Kirby when only the immortal announcer Jack Buck could say. “And we will see you tomorrow night.”It was our moment in infamy. I’ll never forget the night they won game seven. I wandered around the Minneapolis loop with tears in my eyes and my heart swelling with pride because our Twins had done what no one thought they could ever do and they were not just the World Champs. They were our World Champs.

It was quiet for a few years in the twin’s origination and then along came Joe. Joe was not just a great catcher and batter; he was an all around athlete and an all around good guy. Yes it was off the field too, that he shined. He was a hero to so many kids and little league coaches were telling their young batters everywhere “If you want to be good, watch Joe Mauer’s stance in the batters box. Watch Joe Mauer’s swing.” It was epic and when Joe uncoiled, that picture belonged on top of every baseball-hitting trophy that was ever given out.

There were those naysayers that said Joe made to much money and you know what-- they all make too much money. But Joe never threatened to go to the Yankees, Joe never threatened to boycott the twins or ask to be traded to get that money and who in his right mind won’t take it if it was offered. Joe was just Joe, and the public loved him. There were those who said he was hurt too much but injuries come to the fiercest competitors more then others because they play sometimes with reckless abandon. Joe was hurt the most as a catcher and anyone who has every caught baseball knows what its like to squat in the dirt for three hours while a big league pitcher throws 98 mile an hour fastballs at you and big league batters foul those pitches back off your mask and body while that runner from third base barrels down the line with his shoulder lowered just to take you out.

Joe’s last time at bat was classic Joe, taking that outside pitch and driving it to left field, then making the turn and stretching it into a double. Grantland Rice the great sportswriter said and I quote. “For when the one great scorer comes to write against your name, He marks not if you won or lost but how you played the game.” Thanks for the memories Joe.