Joseph Patrick Mauer was born on April 19, 1983, in St. Paul, Minnesota. He attended Cretin-Derham Hall High School before being selected by the Minnesota Twins with the first overall pick in the 2001 MLB draft. Mauer made his major league debut on April 5, 2004. He spent his entire fifteen-year career with the Twins, playing as a catcher and first baseman. During his tenure, he earned six All-Star selections, won three consecutive Gold Glove Awards from 2008 to 2010, and captured five Silver Slugger Awards. He was named the American League Most Valuable Player in 2009. Mauer also won the Baseball America Minor League Player of the Year award in 2003 and the Twins Bill Boni Outstanding Rookie Award in 2004. He is the only catcher in MLB history to win three batting titles. In 2024, Mauer was inducted into both the Baseball Hall of Fame and the National High School Hall of Fame.