For the ten-year period from 2004-2013, catcher Joe Mauer was one of baseball’s best players. The three-time batting champ and 2009 AL MVP made six All Star games in those ten years while hitting .323 and tallying a .405 on-base percentage.
His Hall of Fame case is strong. Since baseball integrated in 1947, 30 players have recorded at least six seasons with an on-base percentage of .400 or higher. Mauer is the only player in the group whose primary position was catcher. He is also the only catcher in big league history to earn three batting crowns.
In the collection is this lineup card from June 20, 2003 – the season before Mauer’s MLB debut – signed by the Twins legend when he played for the New Britain Rock Cats.