MINNEAPOLIS Johnny Bench, Iván Rodríguez and now, Joe Mauer.
Among the precious few catchers who have been skilled enough at their craft to even make it to the Major Leagues, there’s a very select echelon of Hall of Famers. And among those scant few who represent the elite
Joe Mauer is officially a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. It's a triumphant moment for many Minnesotans, but for those who were kids as the prime of his career played out, it holds a special significance.
In 2010, I wrote an article discussing the Twins' selection of Joe Mauer as the first overall pick in the 2001 draft instead of legendary college pitcher Mark Prior. It's fun to look back at the quotes from late, great Twins scouting chief Mike Radcliff, about that decision. At that time, he was the organization's scouting director. Ultimately, it was his call to make. Joe Mauer or Mark Prior?