a friend and i thought about heading out to target field on september 30 just in case it turned out to be joe mauer's final game. we didn't, and it did, but i'm ok with that. i had the joy of watching mauer play for fifteen years (most of that time was joyful, anyway), and i couldn't help but buy one of the topps now cards that was released on october 1.
i will always remember being at the metrodome for the dodgers series in 2006. i attended all three games, watching the twins sweep the dodgers behind a 11 for 13, two-double, triple, 6 rbi performance by mauer. it was something i hadn't seen in person since watching tony gwynn carve up the dodgers in a late 90's series. i've stood in autograph lines for mauer, watched him interact with fans (including my son) at spring training, and caught up with him at a glen perkins charity run a couple of years ago. i readily believe all of the 'good guy' stories.
topps best not screw this up and leave him out of 2019 flagship - this will be one of the final tributes i want most in my collection.
Dang. That was quite the series against the Dodgers. Gonna miss Mr. Mauer.
ReplyDeleteCan't bring myself to write it yet, working on a Mauer post since that game. Really was a perfect ending, with his kids on the field pre-game, an opposite field double in his final at bat, and the catching appearance...
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