Minnesota Twins: The 4 players who are on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore

Minnesota Twins: Making the case for Joe Mauer to be on the Mount Rushmore

Mauer was the subject, often unfairly, of rampant ire from a lot of Twins’ fans. It went something like this for many: “Why doesn’t he hit more home runs?” Why does he need a day off when there’s a day game after a night game? He’s so soft.” “His contract is so big, why doesn’t he produce/play more?” “Why doesn’t he talk more? He’s got no personality.” And one time when he was dealing with the aftermath of offseason knee surgery (if I recall correctly), whoever told manager Ron Gardenhire to say Mauer’s lingering knee soreness was “bilateral leg weakness” should have been fired that day.

As Mauer approaches being on the Hall of Fame ballot for the first time in 2024, there’s no denying the peak of his run as a catcher. It’s often said he had a seven-year peak, but over eight seasons (2006-2013) he won three batting titles with a .327/.410/.473 slash-line and a 139 OPS+. While playing arguably (no, not even arguably) the most physically taxing position on the field as he also took home three Gold Gloves for his work behind the plate.

Concussions moved Mauer out from behind the plate to first base for the final five years of his career (doesn’t feel like it was that many, but it was). But his peak run as an all-around catcher is almost completely unrivaled in baseball history for the position, and that gets him the Mount Rushmore nod here.

Honorable mentions for the Twins’ Mount Rushmore: Tony Oliva, Bob Allison, Bert Blyleven, Jim Kaat, Torii Hunter