Who would take home the 2009 American League MVP Award? Would it be Derek Jeter from the New York Yankees, Miguel Cabrera from the Detroit Tigers, Joe Mauer from the Minnesota Twins, Mark Teixeira from the New York Yankees? Which one of these fine players would take home this award? It was going to be very interesting to see who would win this award because all these players had such a good year and this pick came down to the wire!
Joe Mauer from the Minnesota Twins would walk away with his first "EVER" American League MVP Award. In 2009 Mauer already won a gold glove award and a silver slugger award. Also Mauer would have himself his second straight batting title and his third in four years as a catcher. But this pick wasn't going to come easy going against a great player who has really came into his own Miguel Cabrera from the Tigers, a first time World Series winner Mark Teixeira from the New York Yankees, and a five time World Series winner Derek Jeter from the New York Yankees as well. Joe Mauer in 2009 had probably one of his best seasons in his young career with a batting AVG of .365, 96 RBI's, 28 HR, and .444 OBP. That is just amazing that a catcher can be that good of a hitter. Being a catcher is probably one the hardest jobs to contribute in baseball. To take shots behind the plate, be on your knees for the most part, catch a 90-95 mph fast ball, and then bat third in the line-up and get on base and run the bases, is just called a "GREAT" all around player that works hard every day! Although it was very hard to choice who would win this award with two great first baseman in Cabrera and Teixeira and the greatest short stops in our time Derek Jeter. Cabrera for the Tigers in 2009 had a really great year with a AVG of .324, 103 RBI's, 34 HR, and .396 OBP. Teixeira who came over from the Braves after being traded away from the Angels in 2008, had a fine season for the Yankees winning his first World Series in 2009 with a batting AVG of .292, 122 RBI's, 39 HR, and .383 OPB. Then there's Jeter who is the best in the game at everything he does and put up another strong output in 2009 batting .334, 66 RBI's, 18 HR, and .406 OBP.
Joe Mauer would become the eighth catcher in history to win the American League MVP Award and the fifth player in Twins history to win the award as well. The last Twin to win the award was teammate Justin Morneau back in 2006, Rod Carew in 1977, Harmon Killebrew in 1969, Zoilo Versalles in 1965, and Now Joe Mauer joins them in Twins history. I think if you have to ask who is the best catcher in AL you would have to say Joe Mauer without a doubt. Here's a 26 year old guy who just loves to play the game and has fun enjoying every moment of it. If you were to ask who was the best catcher before Mauer you would probably say Ivan Rodriguez who played for the Texas Rangers in the late 90's or Jorge Posada who still plays for the New York Yankees who's better years are behind him winning five World Series titles. But before that you would have to go all the way back to the late 70's to find a great catcher in the American League and that was Thurman Munson who played for the New York Yankees. I think Joe Mauer has filled that spot of being the best catcher in our time as we speak and will be for the next four to five year if he stays healthy. The Twins won their division this year by one game, but didn't make it too far in the postseason after hitting a wall against the New York Yankees, the Twins will definitely be back next year to try to go back to the postseason and see if they can win their first World Series since 1991. As for Mauer he's going to do what he does best and try to become the first catcher since Yogi Berra from the Yankees to win back to back MVP Awards in 1954 and in 1955, to do just that and try to win a World Series title. This is Beyond a great catcher, this is Beyond Baseball.
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