Joe Mauer was at CHS Field on his night, in his city, at the Saints’ game in Lowertown St. Paul, and responded in only the way he could.
Hall of Famer Joe Mauer arrives on stage for the National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Cooperstown, N.Y., Sunday, July 27, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
He’d just been introduced by his high school coach, Cretin-Derham Hall legendary skipper Jim O’Neill, and was honored by the city with a declaration that Saturday, Aug. 9 was Joe Mauer Day in St. Paul. He was shown a plaque honoring his achievements that will be displayed at the Twins Class AAA club’s home park for years to come.
“Holy cow, wow,” Mauer said as he stepped up to the mic.
Mauer isn’t exactly keen on gatherings that honor, well, him. But Saturday carried some special meaning. One year after he was inducted into Cooperstown, this was his city’s chance to honor one of its own.
Mauer was honored to be joined on the field by coaches such as O’Neill, Frank White and Billy Peterson while Steve Winfield watched from the stands. Fellow St. Paul Hall of Famers Paul Molitor, Dave Winfield and Jack Morris were all mentioned throughout the pregame ceremony.
“It’s the community and support that you have. I was fortunate to have great mentors that kind of help mold you, not only as a player but as a man,” Mauer said. “My journey in baseball finished in Cooperstown, but the amount of people that those guys have helped over the years, it’s quite a long list. Happy to be a part of this community and proud to be from here. Tonight was just another fun, special night to celebrate St. Paul and baseball as a whole.”
That’s the only way he’d want it. Mauer has a fervent pride in his home city and, specifically, his baseball neighborhood, with Toni Stone Field and the Dunning Sports Complex serving as the hubs.
Baseball hall of famers Dave Winfield, left, and Joe Mauer, right, congratulate each other during the Dave Winfield Legacy Celebration at Toni Stone Stadium in St. Paul on Saturday, July 19, 2025. A statue of each of them, in addition to two other St. Paul baseball legends, will be installed in the Dunning Sports Complex to celebrate the path they have paved for St. Paul baseball. (Bennett Moger / Pioneer Press)
Saturday’s event featured bobbleheads distributed to every fan in attendance. Those featured Mauer in a St. Paul jersey, an image that was plastered around the park.
Saints president Derek Sharrer reminded everyone during the ceremony that Mauer never played for the club, which didn’t become a Twins affiliate until two years after Mauer’s retirement. Rather, those images were taken from a game in which the Twins sported the St. Paul jerseys in homage to the state’s capitol.
Mauer’s jersey from that game is framed and hanging up in his basement bar at his home.
“I just want to say how proud I am to be from this city,” Mauer told fans in attendance Saturday. “It really takes a city to lift me up to, ultimately, Cooperstown. … I’m just glad to be a small part of (St. Paul’s) history.”
After the conclusion of his speech, Mauer threw a first pitch to Saints manager Toby Gardenhire and eventually retreated to enjoy the game with his countless — truly, countless — family members and friends in attendance, which expanded well beyond the suite afforded to Mauer on Saturday evening.
“Mauers in St. Paul, we travel pretty thick,” Joe said with a smile. “And they don’t have to go far, everybody is still here. It’s been great. My career, having the support of my family, my friends, this community, (it) is just tremendous. It continues to amaze me every time when they come out on a night like tonight.”
But Mauer lagged a touch behind his family as he exited the field, taking time to sign a seemingly endless number of autographs for fans (and even an Iowa Cubs player), having personal interactions with nearly every person throughout the process, taking photos with the grounds crew and even wishing Saints players luck in their game.
This was a celebration to be shared.
“What he did throughout his career, how he represented us, himself, the whole state, was truly inconceivable. We’re so proud of Joe,” O’Neill said. “I think the biggest thing is he’s one of us, all of us. He was when I first saw him … and he still is today.”
Originally Published: August 9, 2025 at 8:02 PM CDT