Governor Mark Dayton proclaimed December 18, 2018, as “Joe Mauer Day” in Minnesota.

The four-time Major League Baseball All-Star winner announced his retirement last month from professional baseball.

“In 2001 at age 18, Joe was chosen as the first overall draft pick for the Minnesota Twins,” reads Governor Dayton’s proclamation. “Joe Mauer will forever be recognized as one of Minnesota’s all-time greatest athletes, and will continue to inspire future generations of girls and boys with his exceptional talent and character.”

Born and raised in Saint Paul, Minnesota, Joe Mauer attended Cretin-Durham High School, where he was a three-sport athlete in baseball, basketball, and football.

In 2001 at age 18, Mauer was drafted as the first overall pick for the Minnesota Twins, where we would go on to play an iconic 15 seasons with his home-state team.

Since 2004, Joe has racked up a totaled 2,123 career hits, was named the American League’s Most Valuable Player in 2009, and has won three yearly consecutive American League Gold Glove awards beginning in 2008.

In 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2013, Mauer was also the recipient of five Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger awards, while simultaneously named a Major League Baseball All-Star, gaining the most votes of any player ever in his 2010 title with 5,372,606 votes. Joe Mauer’s prolific career concluded following the final game of the 2018 baseball season on Sunday, September 30, 2018, at Target Field in Minneapolis.