Best MLB players not in the Hall of Fame: Minnesota Twins, Joe Mauer
WAR value: 55.2
Joe Mauer was one of the best players in baseball in a stretch that lasted from 2006-2013. The Minnesota Twins star was named MVP in 2009 and made six All-Star Games in that span. So what slowed down one of the most elite players in baseball? Injuries ultimately stopped a legendary ascent, but Mauer still retired as one of the best catchers to ever play the game.
It is easy to see a player win an MVP and slow down after, only to say he ended up showing major regression. But if you look at Mauer’s career, he still posted a 3.9 WAR in 2017, which was his second-to-last year in MLB. He was firmly set in at first base by that point, but that doesn’t take away from his legacy. If anything, the move to first after 2013 ultimately elongated his career that was riddled with injuries.
Mauer, a catcher, led the league in batting average three separate times. Some fans may think he did that because he was not playing everyday. However, the fewest games he played in any of those three seasons was 138 in his MVP season of 2009. He retired with a slash line of .306/.388/.439. So no matter where he was on the field, he could hit.
Mauer is still not eligible for the Hall of Fame, but his case remains up in the air. He ranks third all-time in Twins franchise history with his 55.2 WAR, behind only Harmon Killebrew and Rod Carew. Seeing the company he ranks among seems to point toward the fact he belongs in Cooperstown.