Everyone wants a piece of Joe Mauer these days–or at least a facsimile. As if Joe Mauer Bobblehead Day and Joe Mauer Autographed Bat Day weren’t enough, the Twins are planning a Joe Mauer Sideburn Day, at which fans will receive synthetic sideburns.
“You put the name `Mauer’ or Joe’s No. 7 on any item and it sells,” Matt Noll, the Twins’ merchandise director, said last week.
Mauer was batting an eye-popping .392 entering the weekend, and “Mauer Mania” is everywhere. Those “Vote Joe” buttons, imploring fans to vote the Twins catcher on to the American League All-Star team, are worn very close to those fans’ hearts these days.
Mauer, third in voting among AL catchers, almost certainly will be named to the July 11 game as a reserve if he doesn’t rally. The Twins tried to entice people to vote by entering voters in a drawing for a chance to meet Mauer before a game.
Wednesday–a day when Twins ace Johan Santana pitched seven shutout innings and Torii Hunter hit a grand slam–talk in the stands was largely about the kid from St. Paul. A sign in the stands proclaiming “Mauer Power” said it all.
“He’s challenging .400!” said Grady Appleton, 42, of St. Paul.
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And no major-league player, not even the great Rod Carew, has hit .400 since the legendary Ted Williams did so 65 years ago.
Appleton was one of dozens of grown men and women wearing Mauer jerseys, priced between $70 and $125.
Deb Trainer, 45, of Eagan, said that after getting her Mauer jersey, she got one for her husband as an anniversary gift.
Sam Runck, 47, also of Eagan, wore her daughter’s Mauer jersey, noting that she’s hoping Mauer will be her future son-in-law.
“He’s awesome, and he’s a local boy,” said Jena Magee, 19, of Maplewood. “And he’s cute.”
“Totally cute,” interrupted her friend, Alecia Evenson, 20, of Woodbury.
Sporting goods manufacturers are just as infatuated.
“He’s become an `A’ player nationally,” Noll said.
Often team officials, trying to promote their players, make initial contact with sporting goods companies. But in Mauer’s case, those companies are contacting the Twins, Noll said.
“I’m just trying to keep doing what I’ve always been doing, but it gets hectic,” Mauer said. “I just try not to pay any attention to that stuff.”
At Wednesday’s game, Mauer T-shirts were seen in all sizes and several colors. Vendors sold Mauer teddy bears, dog tags and baseballs with his picture. Mauer baseball cards on plaques were sold out at most stands.
“How glamorous is Joe’s life?” asked Tony Leseman, a former high school teammate and ex-University of Minnesota player. “Sunday night we watched the College World Series together [on TV].”
After going 4-for-5 against the Dodgers on Monday night, Mauer celebrated by going bowling with lifelong friend Larry Nava.
“I talk to him every day, and if I didn’t watch the game that night, I won’t know how he did because he never mentions a thing,” Nava said. “But he always asks how my day went.
“That’s just Joe. He really is a St. Paul guy.”
Larry Norder, owner of Air Freight Unlimited, said Mauer still comes around to Concordia University’s baseball field to watch the amateur team Norder manages.
“Joe’s just Joe,” Norder said. “Whether he goes 5-for-5 or 0-for-5, I’m sure he gets to sleep at night. He just doesn’t go 0-for-5, that’s all.”