In 2006, Joe Mauer helped to propel the Minnesota Twins into the post season with his tremendous hitting.  Batting .347, Mauer capture the AL batting title, making him the first AL catcher to do so.  Joe's recent success has driven demand for his bats through the roof in Minnesota and across the nation. 

I have had the opportunity to handle numerous Mauer bats over the past three years and have identified certain use characteristics.  On this page I will outline my observations regarding what I believe are legitimate and consistent use characteristics.  Like all players, Joe’s use characteristics have evolved and will likely continue to evolve; this should not be interpreted as a definitive list of Joe’s use characteristics.

As many collectors are already aware, Joe uses Rawlings bats the vast majority of the time.  However, I have located photos of him using other manufacturers bats such as XBAT, MAX BAT, and BWP in 2004 and 2005.   With that having been said, every 2006 Mauer gamer that I have come across has been a Rawlings bat.

In terms of specifications, the 2006 Mauer bat I have seen has been a model 456MR and weighing between 31 and 33 ounces.  I believe that Joe has used other Rawlings models including 456GS and 491B. 

Pine tar

The most consistent of trait is Mauer’s use and application of pine tar.  Mauer's pine tar application seems to be consistent dating as far back as his rookie season of 2004.  Joe has consistently applied a relatively heavy concentration at the center of the bat just below, and sometimes extending into the Rawlings "R" at the center of the bat.  This pine tar commonly works it way down to the handle area (ala Brett).  Most Mauer bat display a distinct gap between the pine tar the center of the bat and the handle.  However, in bats displaying super heavy game use that gap seems to narrow covering almost the entire handle in pine tar (although it still appears to be thinner/lighter between the handle and center areas).

Tape

It appears that Joe taped his handles to some degree in 2004 and 2005.  I am sure how consistent this is but I have owned two 2005 Mauer bats with taped handles.  The tape will white athletic type tape wrapped in a solid spiral extending approximately 7 inches starting at the knob.

Markings

In terms of markings Joe does not seem to be consistent in his knob markings.  It seems that Joe does not typically his uniform number on the knob.  The majority of 2006 Mauer bats that I have owned (with the vast majority coming directly from he twins) have shown no writing on the knob other than the factory written player's name and bat weight.  With that having been said, I have owned two 2006 and 2005 Mauer gamers, which had his number 7 on the knob written in small black marker (one also had his number written on the barrel end).

Hit pattern

As one might expect from a great left handed contact hitter, a heavy concentration of seam and ball marks can almost always be found on the left handed side of the barrel.  However, all of the Mauer bats that I have owned have also had deep seam marks on other areas of the barrel to some degree.  So there is not the same kind of extremely consented area of seam marks that I have seen on with other great contact hitters like Brett and Gwynn.

2006 Mauer bat

2005 Mauer bat

2004 Mauer bat