I have had the privilege to follow the entirety of Joe Mauer’s career with the Minnesota Twins, which is to say his entire career. From the prodigy to the elder statesman on my favorite sports team, Joe has been nothing but a professional.
I have felt more sadness over his (potential) pending retirement than I would have thought, but it is only because of who he was both on and off the field. Looking back, had the knee injury not happened his rookie season and the concussions not caught up with him, I dare to think how great he would, universally, be considered.
While his teams didn’t bring home a World Series, I will always remember Joe Mauer, #7, one of the very best of his era and a legend wearing a Twins uniform.
Thanks Joe.