With Joe Mauer turning 37 today, we take a look back at the ten most memorable moments of his historic Minnesota Twins career.
Today is Joe Mauer’s birthday, so to celebrate we ranked the ten most memorable moments in Joe Mauer’s career with the Minnesota Twins. There are so many important moments that it was nearly impossible to choose.
Great plays like his double at the 2009 All-Star Game to tie it up and his diving grab on a bunt against the Baltimore Orioles get left off of the list. Memories like his 100th career homer and 1,000th hit also don’t make the cut. However, with ten great moments (and two more honorable mentions) to get to, it’s time to get started.
Joe Mauer’s Honorable Mentions:
Joe Mauer hits his First Home Run-6/6/2004
The first of 143 homers Mauer would hit over his career, Mauer blasted his first career homer in his sixth career game. After missing most of April and all of May due to surgery on his medial meniscus, Twins fans were clamoring to see more their new franchise centerpiece.
Mauer delivered in his third game back from the injury with a three-run home run in the eighth inning. The homer would put the Twins ahead of the Detroit Tigers 6-3 in a game they would win 6-5. It was a good start to Mauer’s career and worth a mention.
Joe Mauer’s First (and Only) Inside the Park Home Run-7/21/2007
Joe Mauer isn’t remembered often for his speed, but in 2007, he used his speed to do the unthinkable, hitting an inside the park home run. With the game tied 2-2, and two runners on, Joe Mauer takes a pitch from Los Angeles Angels reliever Scot Shields to deep center, sending center fielder Gary Matthews Jr. diving for the ball.
Long story short, Matthews Jr. is too far away and the ball bounces to the wall. Mauer and the two runners ahead of him sprint around the bases to score, and the Twins win 5-2. Mauer was then quoted by ESPN saying this: “I was afraid of falling over when I hit the bag at third. It’s a long ways
around there and I haven’t done that in a while.” A true hero.