Article: Twins to Retire Mauer's No. 7: Who's Next?

[Twins33]

Retiring a number is for an MLB HOF type player, or close to it, in my opinion. I would not have retired Hrbek's. And so far no one else but Mauer deserves it.

 

Hopefully Lewis or Kirilloff are next.

[ewen21]

To put things in perspective, Derek Jeter did not have his number retired until 3 seasons after he retired--in 2017.  He belongs, but to say it is fast is an understatement.  As far as a discussion about Buxton, Sano and Berrios?  I can't even

[Pardon My Dinger]

I don’t think we’ve seen the next retired number yet. We all love Radke, but if Kaat’s number isn’t retired, neither will radke’s.

 

No idea.

[Pius Jefferson]

 

I would say Harold Baines even though he was never a Twin. If he is worthy of being in the Hall of Fame we may as well make him a member of ours as well. Sad part he probably will never had his number retired by any team. So why not be "Minnesota nice" and bring him in. 

 His number is retired by the White Sox.

[Pius Jefferson]

This is going to be one of many ways to keep Joe Mauer's name in the public eye while he waits for his HOF eligibility to begin.

[mickeymental]

punto.

[Platoon]

I personally hate the tradition of retiring numbers. Worst case scenario: Montreal Canadiens. They have retired 1,2,3,4,5,7,9,10,12,16,18,19,23,29,33. Dickie Moore and Elmer Each anyone?

 

Having your name on a wall of honor is enough.

 

How many numbers have Real Madrid or Manchester United retired? Zero. It isn't the number, it's the player.

Hmmmm, I didn't know they played baseball across the pond?

[Number3]

I do believe that when the obligatory Joe Mauer Day arrives and the throngs in Target express their adoration for #7, it will be a day that Joe Mauer has long since begun to dread. I'm sure his speech will be one for the ages.

Edited December 20, 2018 by Number3

[Craig Arko]

I do believe that when the obligatory Joe Mauer Day arrives and the throngs in Target express their adoration for #7, it will be a day that Joe Mauer has long since begun to dread. I'm sure his speech will be one for the ages.

You already missed Joe Mauer Day.

 

https://mn.gov/governor/newsroom/?id=1055-362631

[yarnivek1972]

To put things in perspective, Derek Jeter did not have his number retired until 3 seasons after he retired--in 2017. He belongs, but to say it is fast is an understatement. As far as a discussion about Buxton, Sano and Berrios? I can't even

What relevance is what the Yankees do to this discussion?

 

As I previously mentioned, both Kent Hrbek and Kirby Puckett’s numbers were retired within a year of their announcement. They are the Twins players with retired numbers that retired most recently.

 

So, it’s not fast compared with Twins history.

[TheBoofIsLoose]

 

What relevance is what the Yankees do to this discussion?

As I previously mentioned, both Kent Hrbek and Kirby Puckett’s numbers were retired within a year of their announcement. They are the Twins players with retired numbers that retired most recently.

So, it’s not fast compared with Twins history.

Agreed, also the Twins weren't going to let anyone else wear #7, even if they hadn't officially retired the number. There is no point in waiting 2-3 years for something that everyone knows is going to happen.

 

[ewen21]

The relevance? I said to put things in perspective. I guess we must always look the lens the Twins give us and say THANK YOU.

 

Just sayin. FOR PERSPECTIVE

I said he earned his place

[Doomtints]

Some commenters are questioning the timing or the reason for this. But didn't we all know his number would be retired? I hope no one is actually surprised....

[Number3]

"You already missed Joe Mauer Day."

 

So I did.. Can't believe I missed that. December 18, what a date to have a "day" for a retired baseball player. At least the invisible crowd at Target for the observance was excusable. How was the speech? It wasn't aired in my market.

[jorgenswest]

Mauer's number absolutely needs to be retired. I look forward to the ceremony.

 

If the bar remains the same, I think the only possible next number is Joe Nathan.

 

Relative to the era, it would be difficult to put Jim Kaat in before Brad Radke based on their performance as a Twin only. Santana and Pascual (with his WAS years) also have more WAR in the organization than Kaat but none of the three is very close to Radke.

 

For hitters the next after Hrbek in terms of Twins WAR is Knoblauch and I don't think we will see Knoblauch's number retired. Allison is next and then there is a drop.

 

 

 

[D. Hocking]

 

"You already missed Joe Mauer Day."

 

So I did.. Can't believe I missed that. December 18, what a date to have a "day" for a retired baseball player. At least the invisible crowd at Target for the observance was excusable. How was the speech? It wasn't aired in my market.

 

I actually thought it was kind of nice and kind of appropriate for Mauer that they surprised him with it at his old Cretin stomping grounds and almost a casual affair.  No doubt they have a big formal Mauer day at Target Field next summer, but will be hard (or impossible) to beat the unofficial Mauer day the last day of the 2018 season.  The people behind that deserve some kudos.

 

From the clip I saw, he kept his speech pretty much geared for the kids in the audience and told them to enjoy and appreciate what they were doing, because it goes by quickly.  Oh, and he thanked people.

[Halsey Hall]

I don't see any numbers being retired in my lifetime.

[yarnivek1972]

I don't see any numbers being retired in my lifetime.

Don’t plan on making it to next summer? Sorry to hear that...

 

Say hi to Harm for me.

[Aerodeliria]

Who is Robinson? I must have blacked out for a few years. I don't remember any left fielder named Robinson. Does he mean Allison?

[NotTorii]

Aw Geez - NOT TORRI!!!  Puleeze!

[old nurse]

 

The relevance? I said to put things in perspective. I guess we must always look the lens the Twins give us and say THANK YOU.

Just sayin. FOR PERSPECTIVE
I said he earned his place

A player earned the number being retired. The teams waiting years to retire the number are waiting for what? If the player earned it they shouldn't have to wait.

[Steve J]

 

They should retire 36 (and that can go both ways, and it will be fun to see two names,) and then 38 after that, but they will unfortunately retire 48 next.

 

  

 

#38 for certain.  I remember they wanted to trade him to Boston, he didn't wanna go.  I remember the windbag sid hartmann ripping him on the air for not wanting to leave. 

Then he came back and resigned with the Twins that off season. 

Personally I would also add #7 as he was my favorite player, but that's a bit of a stretch.

[strumdatjaguar]

Nobody - only Johan Santana could engender a legitimate debate.

[Brock Beauchamp]

Retiring a number is for an MLB HOF type player, or close to it, in my opinion. I would not have retired Hrbek's. And so far no one else but Mauer deserves it.

 

Hopefully Lewis or Kirilloff are next.

If Hrbek played today, he’d be a borderline HoF case (though he didn’t play long enough to make it). He was criminally underrated during his career because the game didn’t properly appreciate his skill set.

[jorgenswest]

I don’t think you wait on the HoF. They don’t have a clear borderline.

 

The Twins have done a good job in selection. There is a pretty clear borderline (at least in terms of bWAR in a Twins uniform). Hrbek and Blyleven are the borderline. Knoblauch and Radke are just on the other side. Nathan is another territory for which the border has nor been defined.

[ashbury]

If Hrbek played today, he’d be a borderline HoF case (though he didn’t play long enough to make it). He was criminally underrated during his career because the game didn’t properly appreciate his skill set.

Agreed. Back in the day, other teams in a tight situation would pitch to Puckett and walk Hrbek. Of course Puckett brought more to the table on defense. But Hrbek was up there.

 

But I disagree that a team needs to limit their number retirements to national HoF standards anyway.

[nicksaviking]

 

Agreed. Back in the day, other teams in a tight situation would pitch to Puckett and walk Hrbek. Of course Puckett brought more to the table on defense. But Hrbek was up there.

 

But I disagree that a team needs to limit their number retirements to national HoF standards anyway.

 

Yeah, local teams are allowed to value players differently than sportswriters in Vermont do.

 

I'd prefer the retired numbers don't get watered down, but I don't think they are at this point. The Twins Hall of Fame has made some selections that make me slightly hesitate.

[Twins33]

If Hrbek played today, he’d be a borderline HoF case (though he didn’t play long enough to make it). He was criminally underrated during his career because the game didn’t properly appreciate his skill set.

If he played today, sure he'd probably be borderline. He didn't play today though.

 

My baseline is basically 50 WAR is needed to retire a number, and some exceptions to that can be granted. Hrbek would not be in for me. The other guys can go into the Twins HOF. Retired numbers are for legends, in my eyes. Some of the greatest players ever. Hrbek isn't that, at least he isn't for me.

 

For pitchers, Radke is borderline but I wouldn't. And I wouldn't Santana and I love him more than any Twins pitcher ever, as a lot of people do.

[RatherBeGolfing]

Nelson Cruz most likely