Gil Dobie
July 10th, 2006, 01:00 PM
Great story on Joe Mauer's relationship with his family, and especially his grandfather.
St Paul Pioneer Press Link (http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/14992565.htm)
A week ago, Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer learned he was selected to baseball's All-Star Game for the first time. The next day, Jake Mauer Sr. learned he would go, too.
Courtesy of his grandson, Joe.
"I've been on cloud nine all week," Jake Sr. said.
Monday morning, Jake Sr. will settle into a first-class seat on a Northwest Airlines flight to Pittsburgh to watch his grandson play in Tuesday night's annual gathering of baseball's elite. Joe, a reserve on the American League's 32-man roster and baseball's leading hitter, paid his grandfather's airfare, arranged for a limousine to pick him up at Pittsburgh International Airport and is covering his hotel expenses.
And one more treat for Grandpa: Joe is handing over his one field pass at PNC Park to Jake Sr., giving the 75-year-old patriarch of St. Paul's first family of baseball on-field access to Monday's events, including the Home Run Derby, and pre-game practices on Tuesday.
When Joe explained the details to Jake Sr., his jovial grandfather was almost in tears.
"That'll be the greatest thing in the world … for me to be out there with all those star players," Jake Sr. said. "I told Joe I won't be out there asking for autographs. I already have the best autograph in my grandson."
St Paul Pioneer Press Link (http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/sports/14992565.htm)
A week ago, Minnesota Twins catcher Joe Mauer learned he was selected to baseball's All-Star Game for the first time. The next day, Jake Mauer Sr. learned he would go, too.
Courtesy of his grandson, Joe.
"I've been on cloud nine all week," Jake Sr. said.
Monday morning, Jake Sr. will settle into a first-class seat on a Northwest Airlines flight to Pittsburgh to watch his grandson play in Tuesday night's annual gathering of baseball's elite. Joe, a reserve on the American League's 32-man roster and baseball's leading hitter, paid his grandfather's airfare, arranged for a limousine to pick him up at Pittsburgh International Airport and is covering his hotel expenses.
And one more treat for Grandpa: Joe is handing over his one field pass at PNC Park to Jake Sr., giving the 75-year-old patriarch of St. Paul's first family of baseball on-field access to Monday's events, including the Home Run Derby, and pre-game practices on Tuesday.
When Joe explained the details to Jake Sr., his jovial grandfather was almost in tears.
"That'll be the greatest thing in the world … for me to be out there with all those star players," Jake Sr. said. "I told Joe I won't be out there asking for autographs. I already have the best autograph in my grandson."