Hometown kid Mauer to be honored with statue outside Target Field

MINNEAPOLIS -- Joe Mauer has taken so much time over the last several months to thank those who have gotten him to this point, that he specifically wanted to take the time on Saturday to thank all of Twins Territory -- from the 39,000 or so packed into Target Field, to those who braved travel issues to make it to Cooperstown for his induction, to those watching from home.

“I want you all to know that I never once took for granted the honor that it was to play here at home, in front of you,” Mauer told the fans. “Every time I put on my uniform and stepped onto this field, I wanted to make you proud and I wanted to give you the best version of myself. You showed up for me, and I wanted to show up for you as well. I wanted you to know how much it meant to me to be a Minnesota Twin.”

As part of those festivities, the Twins also took the opportunity to thank Mauer one more time.

The organization will recognize the hometown kid with a statue outside Target Field in his likeness and honor, to be unveiled at a to-be-determined date during the 2025 season, fellow Hall of Famer and St. Paul native Paul Molitor announced at the end of Saturday’s ceremony.

“Joe Mauer is a Hall of Fame player and person, and one of the best to ever wear a Minnesota Twins uniform,” read a statement from Twins executive chair Joe Pohlad in a release. “Joe is one of us, and we all went along for the ride as the kid from St. Paul earned his rightful place in Cooperstown as the best-hitting catcher in baseball history.

“The memories he created for a generation of his fellow Minnesotans will always be cherished, and it is only fitting that our ballpark has a permanent celebration of our hometown baseball hero. On behalf of our organization and Twins fans everywhere, we are thrilled to honor Joe Mauer’s legacy with a Target Field statue.”

Mauer’s statue will be the eighth outside Target Field, joining Rod Carew (April 2010), Harmon Killebrew (April 2010), Kirby Puckett (April 2010), Carl and Eloise Pohlad (October 2010), Tony Oliva (April 2011), Kent Hrbek (April 2012) and Tom Kelly (June 2017).

There was already hardware on display for Mauer at Target Field on Saturday, as representatives of the National Baseball Hall of Fame brought Mauer’s Hall of Fame plaque to Minneapolis for Twins fans to admire up close, weeks after his official induction to Cooperstown as part of the Class of 2024.

But starting next season, Mauer’s likeness in bronze will live on just outside the ballpark he called home, too.

“I have always been proud to be from Minnesota, and proud to play for this team,” Mauer said. “But the love that I have felt these past few months and seeing so many Minnesota Twins fans out in New York for my induction has only deepened my sense of appreciation for this fanbase and my sense of pride for being a Minnesotan.”