Will Joe Mauer be a first-ballot of Hall of Famer?
Mauer, on the ballot for the first time this year, needs 75% of the vote to be inducted into Cooperstown, and although it’s early, the former Minnesota Twins star is off to a good start.
Ryan Thibodaux, an unofficial Hall of Fame ballot tracker, has so far counted 17 votes for Mauer from the 21 ballots that he’s tracked. Nineteen votes have been publicized, including Jon Heyman of the New York Post voting for Mauer, while two ballots so far have been released anonymously.
“Before the concussions, he was the best catcher in the game who happened to win three of the five batting titles ever won by catchers,” Heyman wrote in the reveal of his ballot.
At 81% of 21 votes so far, it’s an encouraging start for Mauer. But there are 384 ballots and he’ll need an estimated 288 votes to get in. Seventeen down, 271 to go for the former Twins catcher and first baseman.
Last year, former Phillies third baseman Scott Rolen was the only player voted in, though former Braves first baseman Fred McGriff was also enshrined courtesy of the Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee.
Players need 5% of the vote to be welcomed back on the ballot in 2024. Mauer should have no problem achieving that considering he needs just three more votes to reach the threshold.
Mauer hit .306 with a .388 on-base percentage in his career while slugging 143 homers with 923 RBI and 2,123 hits, playing the first decade of his career as the best defensive catcher in the game.
He was the 2009 American League MVP and won three batting titles while earning six trips to the All-Star Game and winning three Gold Glove awards.
Members of the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) have until Dec. 31 to vote and the results will be announced by Major League Baseball on Jan. 23, 2024.
