All Star Game!

In honor of today's All Star Game (the 83rd, in fact!), I wanted to take a look back at other All Star Games.  They're a fun chance for baseball players to get together and have fun during these long summer days of baseball.

The All-Star games, otherwise known as the "Mid-summer Classic" are a nice honor for many players, Joe Mauer included.  Joe Mauer has been an All-Star pick a whopping four times!  The first was in 2006 followed by stints in 2008, 2009, and 2010.

The top player at the All Star Game earns a Ted Williams Most Valuable Player Award.  This is like an honor on top of an honor and the recipient is clearly a top notch major league baseball player!  Past recipients include Willie Mays, Bobby Bonds, Ken Griffey, Sr., Cal Ripken, Jr., and Alfonso Soriano.  In 2011, the winner was Prince Fielder of the Milwaukee Brewers.

The All Star Game is held in a variety of venues.  In 2011, it was at Chase Field in Arizona; this year it will be at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.  Tune in to see some top-notch athletes compete in yet another year of great All Star baseball action!

Minnesota Twins versus Texas Rangers

Today marks the third game between the Minnesota Twins and Texas Rangers.  If you're like me, this means that you're ready for new knowledge about the opposing team.  To keep today's game fresh, here are a few fun facts about the Texas Rangers that will help enrich your game watching experience!

*  The Texas Rangers baseball team was established in 1961 and have based in Arlington since 1972.

*  Their stadium, the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington (real creative name...) seats 48,194.

*  The Texas Rangers' CEO and President is Nolan Ryan.

*  The Texas Rangers are frequently known as "The Blue Crew."

*  George W. Bush was part owner of the team from 1989-1994 and is still a huge fan to this day.  In fact, his love of baseball is featured in the movie W which takes a look at his adult years, struggles, and triumphs.

These games may be away, but there are plenty of home games up ahead by the end of this week!  Get tickets today!

Joe Mauer: Football star

If only all of us were so lucky that we had two successful pro careers lined up and ready to go!  Joe Mauer has lived that experience.  His athletic prowess in baseball and football led to what must have been a difficult decision: should he head to the MLB draft out of high school or should be go play college football?

As a junior, Joe Mauer was the Cretin Derham Hall starter.  He continued again as a senior and by the end this two year stint, he had tallied 73 touchdowns with a senior year 62% completion total.

National outlets soon took notice.  In 2000, Joe Mauer made it into Sport Illustrated as a quarterback for the Cretin Derham Hall football team.  He was named as the 2001 Gatorade National Player of the Year in both football and baseball!  He was also an All-American according to Reebok and ESPN.

Florida State University soon came knocking.  They offered a scholarship for Joe Mauer to come play college football, but we know what happened next.  Joe Mauer instead entered the MLB draft and was 2001 draft number one pick who went straight for the Minnesota Twins.  Everything worked out beautifully for Joe Mauer and I for one am glad that he picked his hometown team instead of a college football team from Florida.  Someday he can go back and earn that college diploma, but for now he's right where he should be: the Minnesota Twins baseball team.

Happy Fourth of July!

With a patriotic day here, what better way to celebrate than by watching America's favorite sport: baseball!  The Minnesota Twins take on the Detroit Tigers today at 6:05 p.m.  Unfortunately the game is in Detroit, but you can catch it on TV (or maybe use this as an excuse to travel to Michigan; buy tickets now!).

I'll be up at the cabin, listening to the game on the radio if we get reception (and, I guess, if it's broadcast).  Hopefully Joe Mauer is able to catch a parade and see some fireworks later tonight.  It's not the fourth without those things!


Good luck to the Minnesota Twins today.  Go make our fourth of July memorable with a win over the Detroit Tigers tonight!

Video Games and Joe Mauer

I have never been much for video games apart from Duck Hunt, but so many guys I know are obsessed.  The headsets, the online chats, the hours of zombie like stares...it's crazy.

Joe Mauer is of that same gamer generation, but he was able to take it a step farther with an appearance in some computer/video games.  The MLB 10 and 11 games for PlayStation featured Joe Mauer on both covers, a huge honor for any baseball player!

The game itself worked its way into popular culture when Minnesota Twins announcer Dick Bremer used the official game tagline and said, "Well played, Mauer."  Is Dick Bremer a closet video gamer?!

Joe Mauer's athletic catch of a foul ball even made the MLB 11 video game introduction was it shows clips of Joe Mauer in all his best plays.

Back in 2009, Joe Mauer was an option of MLB players in the Backyard Baseball game, so that marks three years of video game appearances.  These will certainly be amazing memorabilia for Joe Mauer to show his future children someday when video games are archaic and virtual reality is the new thing!

Joe Mauer's Old Flame

Joe Mauer is now engaged to fellow Cretin-Derham Hall alum Maddie Bisanz, but at one point, he was romantically linked to Chelsea Cooley, a Miss Teen USA and Miss USA contestant.

Chelsea Cooley is about the same age as Joe Mauer and hails from Charlotte, North Carolina.  Joe Mauer dated Chelsea Cooley for just 6 months--really, not long at all--before calling it quits.

Joe Mauer's dad, Jake Mauer, only had positive things to say about Chelsea Cooley at the time and was quoted in a couple interviews as saying she was a nice girl.

Chelsea Cooley, Miss USA

Now that both Joe Mauer and Chelsea Cooley have moved on, they are starting lives with others.  Joe Mauer's engagement has been making headlines while Chelsea Cooley was reportedly married back in 2008.  Even if Chelsea Cooley was a positive girl, I personally am glad Joe Mauer is settling down with a hometown friend.

Joe Mauer's Day Off

Well, folks, today is June 28th.  To us, no big deal.  To Minnesota Twins baseball players like Joe Mauer, this is their one day off of work all week.  In fact, it's just their fourth and final day off in all of June.


Man.

When it's put in that perspective, it's hard to relate.  Few other sports or careers for that matter require such a time commitment.  Baseball games may be slow, but the travel and training required (up to 10-12 hours a day for Joe Mauer between warming up, training, weights, cool-down, care) is grueling.  The whole summer could pass without Joe Mauer being able to take a week and go to his cabin or just enjoy the view OUTSIDE of a ball park!

I know, I know.  Joe Mauer and fellow Minnesota Twins baseball players are paid very well for their work and it's an amazing chance to play in the big leagues.  But sometimes the other side is tough, too--lasting injuries, strained relationships from so much road time, not much time to just enjoy the summers at home with the people you love.

So, does the MLB schedule too many baseball games?  My sister would say yes.  She's not the biggest baseball fan in the first place, but has a point when she says that every game becomes less significant the more they are.  That's why football, for example, is much more interesting to her.  Each game is extremely important and high stakes in a relatively shorter season.

Exhausted baseball player...call for help!

I'm interested in your thoughts, Mauer on a Mission readers!  Is the MLB season too long?  Joe Mauer and I want to know. :)

Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau: BFFs

It's no secret that Justin Morneau and Joe Mauer are close friends.  Both players share the same initials (doesn't that make you best friends automatically?!) and the same adoration from millions of fans (especially women across the Midwest...and beyond!).

Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau shared a St. Paul townhome for many years, as we've covered before on this blog.  Through interviews and pictures, it's clear they balanced each other out--Justin Morneau was more laid back and messy, Joe Mauer a bit more reserved and tidy.  Apparently Justin Morneau would really have to persuade Joe Mauer to go out with friends after games and socialize.  And both were injured frequently in past seasons, missing big streaks of games, much to the disappointment of Minnesota Twins baseball fans.

Now that both Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau are in serious relationships, I bet they get together for evenings out as couples.  We're watching these two friends grow up before our very eyes (ahhhhhhh).

Joe Mauer's Potential Career Choices Post-Minnesota Twins

After learning about Joe Mauer over the years, I've come to realize he has the potential to step into many careers after his time with the Minnesota Twins comes to an end (sob).  After reading through many articles and online sites, I've realized Joe Mauer gravitates toward the arts.  Seriously!  Stay with me here.

Let's start with potential career number one: acting.  We've seen it time and again in the variety of commercials Joe Mauer has starred in.  He delivers his lines naturally and accurately, plus his good looks are made for the big screen.  Who knows?  He could be the next star of a blockbuster someday soon...perhaps a role similar to that of Jacob in Twilight?

A second career option post-Minnesota Twins baseball would be as a rapper.  According to a revealing Star Tribune article a couple years ago, Joe Mauer often raps even in front of fellow Minnesota Twins baseball players.  He also has a recording studio at his cabin in Minnesota!

Last but not least, perhaps Joe Mauer could be a singer.  Remember his lines in the Explore Minnesota commercial?  Listen again at 00:39.

Ok, yeah, maybe Joe Mauer should stick to catching for the Minnesota Twins for awhile.  Pretty sure he's found his calling.

Joe Mauer's nicknames

Minnesota Twins players often get lasting nicknames.  Kent Hrbek was Herbie, Paul Molitor was Molly and Kirby Puckett was Puck.

How come Joe Mauer seems to just be Joe Mauer?  (Not that there's anything wrong with that....I just wonder if he'll ever get something else, too!)

Nickname possibilities for Joe Mauer could include JM, though that cuts too close to fellow Minnesota Twins player (and former roommate) Justin Morneau.  Perhaps Joe Mauer could go by "7" since he proudly wears that number on his Minnesota Twins uniform.  Joe Mauer's last name is difficult to abbreviate like the Hrbek, Molitor, and Puckett brigade.  "Mauery" or "Mau" just doesn't have the same ring as "Puck."  In fact "Mau" conjured images of a certain Chinese dictator...not the kind of association a young Minnesota Twins baseball player would enjoy.

Looks like Joe Mauer will be just that--Joe Mauer--for his professional career.  Or, according to Sports Illustrated, American Idol.  Both are fine with  me!

Father's day for Joe Mauer's dad, Jake

Joe Mauer has a great set of parents and Jake Mauer is clearly proud of the three Mauer sons he's raised.  In honor of Father's Day, here's a quick haiku for all you Minnesota Twins baseball loving dads out there.

 The crack of a bat

Brings kids and dads together

At the baseball field.

Make sure to take the time and say you appreciate the dad in your life!  A couple of Minnesota Twins baseball tickets to go see Joe Mauer live and in action sure never hurt any blue-blooded Minnesota Twins baseball dad, right?!  Here's an easy place to pick up a pair for you and your dad (I like supporting local Minnesota companies!); it's a great last minute gift in case you put it off until now.  Just pick out a nice card and slip inside a print-out of your ticket confirmation.  

Minnesota Twins baseball for your dad = a perfect way to spend time together!

Minnesota Twins Home Game Tonight!

The Minnesota Twins baseball team takes on the Milwaukee Brewers tonight at Target Field.  I know I always profile Joe Mauer on this clearly named "Joe Mauer on a Mission" site, but today I thought I'd give a few fun facts about the Milwaukee Brewers baseball team to get us all pumped up for tonight's game.

*  The Milwaukee Brewers were established in 1969.

*  The Milwaukee Brewers have gone through four logo evolutions over the years.

*  Paul Molitor, former Minnesota Twins player and fellow Cretin-Derham Hall alum like Joe Mauer, had his number retired from the Milwaukee Brewers.  What an honor!

There you have it!  Now that you have a few facts under your belt, get ready to enjoy the game.  I'm watching it from home tonight, but maybe there are a few last tickets remaining.  Enjoy!

Joe Mauer, aka Joseph Patrick Mauer

I met a little boy the other day named Orion.  He was at a birthday party that also saw kiddie guests named Jasper, Thea, Porter, and Cain.  I mostly know this because the kids made name plaques for an activity and I was there to help paint their bizarre names across each tile.  It sure makes me appreciate the classic masculinity of Minnesota Twin baseball player Joseph Patrick Mauer.  Talk about a name that will weather the generations!

"Joseph" means "Jehovah increases" and is the 20th most popular name in the U.S.  The name is found everywhere from the Bible to the Minnesota Twins baseball roster and everywhere in-between: G.I. Joe, Joe the Plumber, and Joe Biden.  Yep, it's a pretty plain name, but it's a solid good guy name.

"Patrick" means "noble, patrician."  Though it's Latin, it is often tied to Irish culture.  We have many Patricks in pop culture: Swayze, Dempsey, and Buchanan.  And who can forget St. Patrick's Day?

So there you have it: two thumbs up for Joseph Patrick Mauer, a solid name for a solid guy.  

Joe Mauer's Cabin

The last post here was about Joe Mauer's house and now we turn attention to Joe Mauer's cabin.  Like any good Minnesotan, Joe Mauer's cabin is here in the Land of 10,000 Lakes and according to his friends, it is not a little lakeside shanty, but an enviable manor.

Joe Mauer's cabin features a bunch of awesome amenities including a batting cage, movie theater, and bowling alley.  What a place!  Joe Mauer also loves recording raps, so the cabin comes with a recording studio, too.  Of course, Joe Mauer has plenty of surrounding land for hunting (and privacy, I'm sure), but if the weather is crappy, sounds like he'll be comfortable indoors!

Joe Mauer even imported mountains to flank his cab-mansion!

In a 2009 interview, Joe Mauer's dad Jake said the cabin is a place for Joe Mauer to be just that...himself.  It sounds like an awesome escape from the reporters and grueling Minnesota Twins baseball schedule.  If there's one place to sink money, it's definitely a lake spot and this one sounds like it can't be beat!

Joe Mauer's Old Digs

Well, I would definitely never admit to being creepy enough to type "Where does Joe Mauer live?" into Google search.  Never in a million years!  But, if I heard about someone who just might have tried something that stalker-ish, I can attest to the fact that many, many people have asked this question.

Most of the answers that pop up to that question reference Joe Mauer's former home once shared with fellow Minnesota Twins player Justin Morneau.  The most in-depth article about the house was published in 2006 from Sports Illustrated and that lucky, lucky reporter was able to take the grand tour.  Kirby Puckett and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles memorabilia was noted as well as the fact the guys mostly feasted on either Jimmy Johns or Davanni's before/after games.  Here's the accompanying slide show of now outdated yet still interesting photos.

Not Joe Mauer's townhouse...but classic St. Paul styling anyway.

As far as where Joe Mauer lives today, I'm not even sure if I believe most of what's out there so I'm content with guessing: Lake Minnetonka?  A gated suburban community?  Somewhere in St. Paul near where he grew up on Lexington?  If I were Joe Mauer, I'd prefer to be anonymous and avoid crazy fans from tracking me down in my rare time off.

Joe Mauer's Hairstyle

The Minnesota Twins usually have their hair hidden under hats or batting helmets and some even look a little funny without a ball cap in place.  Joe Mauer, though, looks great hat on or off, don't you agree?  Though Joe Mauer's sideburns get the lion's share of publicity, his Head and Shoulders styled 'do deserves attention, too.

Back in high school, Joe Mauer's hair length was a bit longer and a bit more blunt.  Gotta love the crooked bangs, too.

Joe Mauer's hair in the earlier years.

Joe Mauer has kept a similar no-fuss look over the course of his Minnesota Twins career.  However, today's haircut is definitely more fitting and grown-up.

Joe Mauer's sleek hair and long sideburns.

Not sure about you, but I do like Joe Mauer's spiky front look from his commercial spot.  Adds a little flair, though not super practical for under a catcher's helmet.

Joe Mauer's weekend look.

 The top men's haircuts of 2012 are definitely more androgynous and flowing, according to GQ Australia.  What would Joe Mauer look like with this sort of style?

Yeah, not a fan of that either.  I think Joe Mauer has it figured out--short, plain, and practical.  Suits him just fine!

The power of seven: Joe Mauer's lucky number

Years before I even knew Joe Mauer existed (yes, there was such a time), I landed independently and confidently on my favorite number: seven.  And then Joe Mauer popped up as a Minnesota Twin and the clouds parted, angels sang, and both my favorite number and new favorite Minnesota Twin were bound together in one amazing bundle of awesomeness.

Why is the number seven so popular?  Where do we find references to the number seven in our culture?  Let's take a peek at some of the things that make number seven so cool.

First, it's Joe Mauer's number.  Clearly rad.

Next, it's the number of days in the week.  And could this week all in red for Minnesota Twins home games look any sweeter?

Third, it's the title of a movie: Se7en.  I've never even watched it yet I'm biased in its favor simply because of how cool it looks to put "7" in place of a "v".  Original.  And seven-licious.

And lastly, we've got Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.  Classic Disney and good memories from childhood.  Wonder if Joe Mauer ever watched this movie when he was growing up?

So there you have it...four reasons why seven is awesome.  Help bring the total to seven!  What are a few more reasons why seven is so cool???

Minnesota Twins away game tonight

In honor of a fresh new month, I've decided to post the Minnesota Twins June baseball schedule here.  You're welcome!

As you already know, the Minnesota Twins are over in Cleveland for the weekend to take on the Cleveland Indians.  I'm hoping this means a pretty easy three wins, but I've crossed my fingers and wished for the same thing before with no luck.  So, we'll have to wait and see how it goes, but I'll be root-root-rooting for my Minnesota Twins home team and hope you will, too.

By the way, I'm seeing lots of red home games on here.  In case any of them tickle your fancy, pick up some tickets soon.  June is (in my humble opinion) THE month to see Minnesota Twins home games at Target Field.  The weather is fresh and warm, the potential of summer lies ahead, and Minnesota Twins baseball is the perfect complement to any afternoon or evening in Minneapolis.  Enjoy!

Joe Mauer's Endorsements

We've taken a look at Joe Mauer's prolific acting career (oftentimes with the leading lady as his mom Theresa Mauer!), but let's examine a few of the products Joe Mauer has endorsed in the past.

Of course, we must start with good old Kemps dairy products.

I'm a huge milk, ice cream, cheese consumer and I love Kemps products so this is the best of both baseball and food worlds for me!  Joe Mauer and Kemps have been partnering since 2010 though it really feels longer.  I guess that's testament to how prominent the Kemps and Joe Mauer ads have been in the past couple years.  This endorsement makes sense to me as both Joe Mauer and Kemps have strong ties to St. Paul, Minnesota.  And when I pick up a box of ice cream sandwiches, I have the added pleasure of seeing my favorite Minnesota Twin on the box!  Bonus.

Other past endorsements included predictably sports oriented products (Nike and Gatorade) but the Head and Shoulders endorsement really threw me for a loop.  Joe Mauer does seem like a no-nonsense guy so he probably isn't dabbling in higher-end hair care products.  However, out of all the things he could promote, it's surprising Head and Shoulders made the final cut.  Oh well.  The commercials are entertaining.

Impersonating Troy Polamalu

Joe Mauer has earned a reported THIRTEEN MILLION from endorsement so I guess the guy knows what he's doing.  This led Bloomberg Businessweek to rank him as 19 out of 100 sports endorsing spokespeople.  Crazy. 

A rant about Joe Mauer's BMI

I was surprised to learn recently that Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer is a whopping SIX FOOT FIVE INCHES TALL!  What?!  I figured he was more in the upper 5, lower 6 foot range, but nope.  Six foot five.

Joe Mauer weighs in at 230 pounds, according to his Minnesota Twins official roster profile.  Since it's nearing bathing suit time and BMI online calculators are top hits right now (according to Google) let's compute what that Joe Mauer's BMI comes in at.

Here's the BMI calculator I'll use.

Ok...input data....and here we go.

Yep.  As suspected, the BMI calculator confirms what I suspected it would: Joe Mauer is apparently overweight with a BMI of 27.27.  (An overweight range is from 25-29.9.)

Joe Mauer's body double according to BMI calculations.

When will the nutrition/exercise/doctor/fitness group of America start adjusting the BMI to take into account lean muscle mass?!?!?!  With their measurements, nearly all the Minnesota Twins players are overweight...and let's not even get started on the Minnesota Vikings football team!

Minnesota Twins Home Game Tonight!

Roar!  The Detroit Tigers are coming to town tonight and for whatever reason, I am SO in the mood for a great Minnesota Twins baseball game tonight at Target Field.

This work week was long and Memorial Day weekend...here I come!  I scored some great seats courtesy of a local ticket broker (I like doing my Minnesota Twins baseball ticket purchases close to home, don't you?!) and a few of my family and friends are heading out to Target Field.

GET ME OUT OF THIS OFFICE and get an icy beverage in my hand!  The workday cannot end soon enough!

Ok, that's all from here today.  Enjoy your Memorial Day weekend and hopefully it gets off to a great start with a Minnesota Twins WIN over the Detroit Tigers tonight at Target Field.

Songs that remind me of Joe Mauer and the Minnesota Twins

My workout playlist has seemed a little stale lately so I attempted another creative imagining experience and pretended I was picking songs for the Minnesota Twins workouts.  What a cool job that would be!  We've got a Minnesota Twins baseball team filled with guys in their 20s and 30s.  Athletic.  Using those details, here's a few of the songs I think the Minnesota Twins baseball players would thoroughly enjoy.

"Jump Around" House of Pain
"Sandman" Metallica
"Welcome to the Jungle" Guns n roses
"This is why I'm Hot" Mims
"6 Foot 7 Foot" Lil Wayne

I wonder if the Minnesota Twins players get irritated with each other's choice of music.  I'd like to hear that conversation...

via

This website has some cool ideas, pairing MLB players with a walk-up song. If I had to pick one for Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer, I'd go with "Thunderstruck" by AC/DC.  It gets the Target Field crowd PUMPED!  Either that or "Sexy and I Know It" by LMFAO for, well, self-explanatory reasons. :)

Mauers Baseball School

If you have a little ball player in your life, think about sending your kids to the Mauers' Baseball School.  Joe Mauer sightings have been reported at this fun training spot and according to their website (click here) the instructors include Joe Mauer's family members Billy Mauer, Jake Mauer III (brother), Jake Mauer II (dad), and Stephanie Mauer.

Billy and Stephanie take over pitching duties while the Jakes tackle shortstop training.

I can't find an online training schedule, but the phone number and contact information is clearly visible so it should be a cinch to call and sign up.  I'm seriously debating calling on behalf of my 11 year old nephew.  I mean, if I signed him up for a clinic, I'd have to drop him off, stay to watch training (aka stalk the field for any sign of Joe Mauer or other Minnesota Twins baseball players), and bring him back home, right?!

Joe Mauer's Wedding Plans

I've attended dozens of weddings, been in three, played piano at two, read a poem at another, and been the bride at one.  With that kind of tally, I've accumulated a pretty good idea of what a wedding can be like, and the thought of Joe Mauer's upcoming wedding to fiance Maddie Bisanz had me daydreaming about what a beautiful Minnesota wedding the couple could enjoy...especially because the budget must be pretty awesome to work with courtesy of Joe Mauer's big paychecks from the Minnesota Twins!

Since both Joe Mauer and Maddie Bisanz are Cretin-Derham Hall alums, it would be highly appropriate to celebrate their big day in a similar fashion--old school, classic St. Paul in the same neck of the woods as their alma mater.  What could be more stately than a reception in a gorgeous Summit Avenue mansion?  Of course, the guest list would have to be limited, which would probably be tricky when the Minnesota Twins establishment are all expecting invites!  Oh the stresses of planning for the big day when it involves a celebrity!

Perhaps a better sized venue would be the University Club (near where Joe Mauer and Justin Morneau once lived!) or somewhere in downtown St. Paul, like the Christos Union Depot.  I once attended a wedding there and was impressed with its historical aspects and beautiful architecture.

How could the couple incorporate Joe Mauer and Minnesota Twins baseball details into their wedding?  Perhaps the accent colors could be navy and a crisp white.  How pretty would that be?

Beautiful (and Minnesota Twins hue) blue!

Another easy way to honor Joe Mauer's baseball loving personality is to create a special groom's cake in a Minnesota Twins theme.  I love this one!

Let's hope Joe Mauer is a bit less reluctant than this sugary groom.

Just make the bride's hair Maddie Bisanz's shade of brunette, and you've got a the perfect personal wedding touch!  Can't wait to see the details of the real Joe Mauer wedding.  In the meantime, I'll keep dreaming...

Joe Mauer's Online Presence

According to some recent surveys, 75% of Americans use their free time to go online in some fashion.  That seemed a little steep for me until I really thought about.  Between the Minnesota Twins official site, Facebook, and Youtube, I think my daily tally of (time-wasting) online hours comes in somewhere between 2 and 3.  Yikes.  But, hey, as a Joe Mauer and Minnesota Twins baseball fan, lots of that free time is poured into learning more about all things Minnesota baseball.  Here's a handy guide for you to get your online fix of Joe Mauer and the Minnesota Twins

Let's start with Joe Mauer on Pinterest.  Yes!  Pinterest!  Who knew?  But we have lots of Joe Mauer fans online and they've been busy pinning away.  I love it.  Here's a screen shot of a quick Pinterest search for Joe Mauer.

Joe Mauer is quite the photogenic athlete, don't you think?

Venture over to Youtube and you'll find tons of Joe Mauer clips.  I've already covered his commercials and acting skills, but there are a few other fun Youtube clips about Joe Mauer, including this fan tribute or Joe Mauer answering fan mail along with his mother, Theresa.

We've already covered Joe Mauer's Twitter on this blog, so I'll move on to an obvious couple picks: the official Minnesota Twins baseball site and a nice site dedicated to Joe Mauer.

I could spend hours perusing all of these online places about all things Joe Mauer and Minnesota Twins baseball.  What did we even do before the Internet?

Joe Mauer's Fiance, Maddie Bisanz!

I'm sure many a heart was broken across the Midwest when Joe Mauer announced his engagement last December.  The lucky and envied recipient of a Joe Mauer proposal was his long-time friend and girlfriend, Maddie Bisanz.  

Cretin-Derham Hall graduate, Maddie Bisanz

Joe Mauer's fiance is a fellow Cretin-Derham Hall graduate.  According to sources, the couple were friends for many, many years before pursuing a romantic relationship.  And after about 18 months of dating, Joe Mauer popped the big question in December 2011.

Back in May 2011, Theresa Mauer talked to C.J., the local celebrity gossip hound.  Theresa let C.J. know that  Joe Mauer is focused mostly on baseball, but she hopes that one day he'll be happy.  A future Mrs. Joe Mauer would need to be self-sufficient, Theresa Mauer said, since the Minnesota Twins season will take Joe Mauer far from home for most of the year.  

Wedding details must be in the works for Joe Mauer and Maddie Bisanz, so I wish them happy planning for a wonderful day!

If you were Joe Mauer...where would you hang out?

Joe Mauer was born and raised in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota and was a huge Minnesota Twins baseball fan from his earliest days.  I know that means he probably enjoyed catching Minnesota Twins baseball games at the old Metrodome Stadium in Minneapolis.  But as an adult living in the St. Paul area, there is so much more to do and see.  Though I wish Joe Mauer would send me a list of his favorite haunts, I'm left to suppose.  So here's a few I think would be great places for Minnesota Twins baseball player Joe Mauer to hang out, whether with his fellow Minnesota Twins players or out with his fiance.

Grand Avenue in St. Paul
You can find just about every kind of food on Grand Avenue, along with tons of shopping and people watching spots.  I could see Joe Mauer comfortable grabbing a drink at Billy's on Grand or grabbing a slice of pizza at Punch Pizza.  Of course, Cafe Latte is the place to go for a big piece of chocolate cake, but I have a feeling that an item like that is not looked on too lovingly during the strict nutritional guidelines of the Minnesota Twins baseball season.

Eagle Street Grille in St. Paul
This would be a great winter hang-out for Joe Mauer to catch a burger and fries before supporting another Minnesota pro team--the Minnesota Wild right across the street at the Xcel Center.

Downtown Minneapolis
Endless supply of nightclubs, restaurants, concerts, and OF COURSE Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins!

Lake Minnetonka
Hot summer days are perfect on the cities' most famous lake.  All Joe Mauer would need is fast boat, some cold beverages, and a few friends to spend an enjoyable day on the water.

The Joe Mauer Quickswing

If you head over to the Joe Mauer Quickswing official site, you'll see the gadget that helped launched the Minnesota Twins hitter into superstardom.  It can do the same for you, yes?  :)

The product was created by Joe Mauer's dad, Jake Mauer II to help his three sons improve their swings.  It clearly worked for them!  The Mauer Quickswing is in use at several colleges and high schools, according to the website, and other baseball leagues have opted to purchase the product as well.

Baseball weaponry

Other softball and baseball aids are available to help youngsters sharpen their hitting skills on the field.  Pitching machines, training balls, and nets are just a few of the many products available on their site.  Joe Mauer's name is clearly the gold star standard for these products and it makes me wonder if other Minnesota Twins players created any contraptions to help improve their games over the years.  If Joe Mauer's family invented this little gadget, chances are other Minnesota Twins players have their own tricks up their sleeves.  And for $99.95, the Mauer Quickswing can be yours to practice hitting for the fences...maybe one day at Target Field!

Target Field grub...what would be Joe Mauer's favorite dish?

Oh my gosh.  It must be close to dinnertime because when I glance through the list of Target Field foods, my mouth starts watering and I would give my arm to dig into a tasty treat.  Gone are the days of boring hot dogs or peanuts at Minnesota Twins games.  The Target Field menu is as diverse as any restaurant in town!  Let's sample (and salivate over) a few items available this season.

*  Bacon sloppy joe served over rolls with cheese and onion
*  Powdered sugar, cinnamon, or cinnamon and sugar donuts served piping hot and fresh!
*  Buffalo chicken macaroni and cheese served with blue cheese breadcrumbs.  DELICIOUS!
*  A cheese stuffed monster meatball.  Yes, please.
*  Skin-on garlic fries

Up close and personal with a sloppy Joe.

Those are just a few of the many new taste sensations at the Minnesota Twins' Target Field.  Better yet, almost all of the new fare comes from local Minnesota restaurants, bakers, or producers, which adds our unique Midwestern touch to any food.  Clearly, the bacon sloppy JOE would be the pick for any true Joe Mauer fan, right?!

I'll plan on ordering it at my next Target Field extravaganza!

Joe Mauer's mom, Theresa Mauer

In honor of Mother's Day, here's a post dedicated to Theresa Mauer, Joe Mauer's mother and (probably) biggest fan.  

She acknowledges that being Joe Mauer's mom leads to a loss of her own identity as she is always seen in relation to him, but from all appearances and interviews, she couldn't be more proud of her famous son.

In a behind-the-scenes news clip taped while Theresa and Joe Mauer were shooting a Kemps commercial, it's clear the mother and son have a good relationship.  Joe Mauer teams up with his family on many projects, and it seems to be working out well for them all.

So now that Mother's Day is upon us, let's hope Joe Mauer (and Billy Mauer and Jake Mauer) pick Theresa up a special gift.  I think a pair of Minnesota Twins baseball tickets would be the perfect Mother's Day present, along with some Minnesota Twins souvenirs.  You can never have too much Minnesota Twins or Joe Mauer baseball gear, can you?!

Commercials featuring Joe Mauer

If I pause to reflect on the many commercials featuring Joe Mauer of the Minnesota Twins, the one that overshadows the rest is last year's Explore Minnesota clip where Joe Mauer sings the following, "Make sure to keep your glove near.  There is simply more to love here" at the 40 second mark.  Great lyrics from a hometown born and raised Minnesota Twin.  I'm not sure any of the people in that commercial had ever sung out loud before, but we like them all the more for it, right?

I enjoy this Head and Shoulders Joe Mauer commercial because, well, it's so true.

Joe Mauer, a natural athlete AND actor.

I know a couple girls who would've loved to be the extras in that scene!

Here's a Minnesota Twins baseball commercial featuring Joe Mauer and Ron Gardenhire.  Good ad campaign for the Minnesota Twins, I do declare.

And, of course, Joe Mauer's partnership with Kemps dairy products needs to make the list.  I know I'm biased, but I really do think Joe Mauer does a pretty good job saying his lines in a casual way.  Do you agree?

Well that concludes a partial tour of Minnesota Twins Joe Mauer commercials.  Another installment coming later!

Joe Mauer's Modeling Career

Minnesota Twins uniforms may be what Joe Mauer is most comfortable wearing, but he did see a stint as a model for Perry Ellis back in 2005-2006.

Joe Mauer's got a wide stance going on here.

According to online information, Perry Ellis International is a sportswear and casual clothing company that encompasses numerous sub-brands including SAVANE, Nike Swim, and Perry Ellis among others.  Joe Mauer's ads show him reclining in a hammock, smiling broadly at the camera, or, like the image above, looking straight on at the camera while wearing Perry Ellis clothing.  

I wouldn't say the ads are Joe Mauer's most flattering pictures, but he does seem to encompass the good-looking, All-American, sport-loving dude the brand targets.  Joe Mauer hasn't modeled much since, perhaps at the advice of his marketing representation team, but maybe he'll get back into it someday.  Modeling, acting, baseball...what can't Joe Mauer do?!

Joe Mauer's Parents

From everything I've seen, Joe Mauer's family could not be more down to earth and friendly.  Jake and Theresa Mauer, Joe Mauer's parents, are your typical Minnesota folks--the kind you'd see at the Little League field, hollering at their kids to go wash up and get dinner, or enjoying a day up at the cabin.  

My favorite online peek into Joe Mauer's family is this Kare 11 clip from last year, featuring Joe Mauer's parents grilling up some homemade brats.  The pride these parents have in all their kids is so apparent.  Jake and Theresa Mauer sport fleece jackets to advertise son Billy Mauer's car dealership.  They proudly show off a pictures of their three sons as young kids.  They excitedly talk about the money raised for charity through various partnerships and volunteer efforts.  And throughout the clip, they laugh easily and banter with the host.

It's no wonder Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer is as nice and grounded as he is....Jake and Theresa are the best example of salt of the Earth people who together raised a great group of boys.

Tweeting with Joe Mauer

Are you on the Twitter bandwagon?  Friends, I am not.  As much as I enjoy laughing at the tweets of certain celebrities (cough, cough, Kim Kardashian) or politicians (looking at you, Sarah Palin), I can't quite rally myself to open an account.  Maybe someday.  

In the meantime, I occupy my online Twitter cravings by reading Joe Mauer News.  It's admittedly bland, but this is balanced with informative content.  I like when a few pictures pop up now and then.  I'm not sure who writes it, but it clearly doesn't indicate Joe Mauer himself is the author.  I read a recent online article about the influx of fake Twitter accounts for local professional athletes.  The article gets to the bottom of verifying actual Twitter accounts, so if you'd like to follow the real Minnesota Twins Joe Nathan for yourself, the link is provided right there.  

"I prefer expressing my thoughts by putting ink to paper."

I'm still hoping Joe Mauer decided to open a legit Twitter account with his Minnesota Twins pre-game musings or game day pep talks.  Hey, it could happen!  

Joe Mauer: Not the spring chicken anymore

Is it just me or does anyone else feel like an octogenarian when they read through the birthdates on the Minnesota Twins baseball roster?  Oh my gosh.  I haven't left my 20s yet and even I feel a little weird that some of these Minnesota Twins baseball players could be kids I babysat in high school or picked on in elementary school.  I used to think Joe Mauer was so young, too, but let's face it: the guy is pushing 30!

Here are a few other Minnesota Twins baseball players with alarmingly young ages:

Alex Burnett (1987)
Trevor Plouffe (1986)
Liam Hendriks (1989)
Tyler Robertson (1987)

Oh, well.  Someday I'll be cackling from the upper deck of Target Field while the Minnesota Twins compete in what will hopefully still be America's favorite past-time (though by those days, it could very well be video games or virtual baseball!).  Replace that bun with a Minnesota Twins baseball hat, and you've got me pegged 6 decades from now. 

Clearly didn't think that was a strike.  Boo, hiss, you ump, you!

Happy birthday, Joe Mauer!

Serve up some birthday cake and ice cream because Minnesota Twins catcher, Joe Mauer, is turning TWENTY-NINE years old today!  Feliz cumpleanos, Joe Mauer!  (I'd add the squiggly line above the "n" to make that message even more bilingually special, but I have no idea how to do it and lack the interest in looking it up.)

Do you think a 29 year old Minnesota Twins baseball player ever gets anything other than a baseball themed cake every freaking year?  Probably not.  So, here's some of the good stuff--a look at a few baseball birthday cakes.

Delicious!

Joe Mauer's Brothers

So many of my friends come from families of three kids, though I've noticed that many times all three are girls.  I suppose it makes for good use of clothes and toys as they are passed through the different kids.  Maybe it was the same way in Joe Mauer's family.  He is also one of three and in this case, all are boys.  Three baseball playing Mauer brothers?  Yes, indeed.  

Billy Mauer and Joe Mauer--baseball loving brothers.

You would think that sibling rivalry would be extreme in a family of three boys who all share a passion for baseball.  But after a little online digging, I came across an interesting article from WCCO that focused on that exact topic.  Check it out here.  It seems the trick in Joe Mauer's family was to treat each boy as individuals rather than all exactly the same.  Good idea, right?

As far as sibling rivalry, it probably helps that Billy Mauer and Jake Mauer, Joe Mauer's brothers, were three and four years old by the time Joe Mauer was born.  The few years of separation might help lessen any tensions since the boys were likely in different leagues growing up.  From all appearances, Joe Mauer and his brothers seem very close.  I bet many Mauer family gatherings include a game of catch or homerun derby.  You can never be too old for those traditions!

Joe Mauer at Cretin-Derham Hall

As a native Minnesotan, I enjoy supporting athletes who were born and raised in this great state of 10,000 lakes.  Joe Mauer is definitely a stand-out in his own right, and would probably have been just as admired by our Minnesota Twins fans even if he was from some other (less cool) state like, say, Utah.  Or Georgia.  Or Arkansas.

But since he is from Minnesota, I think our Minnesota Twins supporters appreciate his skills even more, and some of you out there have been following Joe Mauer since his early days at Cretin-Derham Hall where he competed in football, basketball, and fencing.  Juuuuust kidding, Joe Mauer fans!  We know the third sport was baseball....though it would be awesome if we had a picture of him in a white fencing suit to insert {here} just for this moment in time.

Here is Joe Mauer back in his high school glory:

All American kid.

Now Cretin-Derham Hall is a solid school with a good reputation.  Not to start any Twin Cities private school rivalries, but we all know it's no Saint Paul Academy or Mounds Park Academy.  But, hey, it works.  And Joe Mauer clearly had an accomplished athletic career and personal life (he is engaged to a fellow CDH alum--a post will be forthcoming on that development!).  Not sure how his academics went, but clearly that takes a backseat when your eyes are on the Minnesota Twins prize.

So there you have it: Joe Mauer, Cretin-Derham Hall's most famous alum!

Joe Mauer Sideburns for Spring?

Are you a Joe Mauer sideburn lover or hater?  I know, I know.  You've been WAITING for this question ever since this little old blog got started.  We'll here it is, and I urge you to take a stand.

My personal journey on the path to Joe Mauer sideburn loving began when he hit the major leagues and everyone took notice of the facial hair look.  My theory is that young guys think it is way cool to finally be able to grow the stuff, and they take full advantage of this opportunity to inform the world, "I am a MAN!  Hear me roar!"

I thought it was hilarious when the Minnesota Twins hosted "Joe Mauer Sideburns Night" back in August 2006.  In fact, I was AT that game!  I wish I had a picture of my brother and I in our matching Joe Mauer sideburns, but alas the picture was saved only to my phone...the same phone that took a jump into a western Minnesota lake two months later and was never recovered (RIP Motorola L6).

Looks natural.

So, clearly, I am a Joe Mauer sideburns lover.  Surprised?  Probably not.  They're tasteful and well groomed, in my humble opinion.  But, I'd like to hear from you, Minnesota Twins fans and Joe Mauer on a Mission blog lurkers!

Joe Mauer's sideburns: Yay or Nay?