I have been collecting Joe Mauer rookies for a while now. Even though his rookie card year was 2002, I didn’t start picking up his rookies until around 2013. This was due to not collecting baseball during the early to late 2000’s. Some recent card organizing gave me the urge to show off the collection.
2002 seemed to be a condition sensitive year for Topps. It’s been a problem finding cards from that year without a edge, corner, or centering issues. I have yet to find a decent 2002 Topps Chrome Joe Mauer rookie.
Here are his raw rookies that I have picked up over the last few years.
2002 Topps #622 Joe Mauer 
2002 Bowman Gold #379 Joe Mauer 
2002 Topps 206 #400 Joe Mauer 
2002 Topps Gold Label Class 1 Gold #164 Joe Mauer /500 
2002 Upper Deck Prospect Premieres #67 Joe Mauer
I have been finding graded Joe Mauer rookies on eBay for $15 or less. I am not the biggest fan of grading (especially with the recent scandals), but I have been happy with the results. I haven’t questioned any of the grades on my purchases.
The following rookies I was able to get for $15 or less except for the Chrome refractor.
2002 Topps #622 Joe Mauer 
2002 Bowman #379 Joe Mauer 
2002 Topps 206 #271 Joe Mauer 
2002 Topps 206 Polar Bear Back #271 Joe Mauer 
2002 Topps Gallery #186 Joe Mauer 
2002 Topps Pristine #151 Joe Mauer 
2002 Topps Gold Label #164 Joe Mauer 
2002 Topps Chrome Gold Refractor #622 Joe Mauer
I picked up the gold refractor for $30 on eBay, which is what I would have paid for the raw version.
As the collection grows, I may have to move away from graded cards as the more rare rookies will command a higher price. At that point I will be able to live with some flaws.
5 replies on “Oh My Mauers”
How many more rookies does he have for you to collect?
He has almost 100 rookie cards including short prints, autos, etc. I am not sure how many are just base rookies, but it’s getting harder for me to find a base rookie card I don’t have. Once they get out of my budget, I’ll be buying less and less.
Great Mauer rookie card collection! I think I only own his Topps Gallery rookie card. Might need to track down one of his Chrome gold refractors though.
These are fantastic! I love the gold refractor and Pristine (one of my all-time favorite sets, and the only Mauer RC in my collection.) Mauer was one of my favorite players in the ’00s, his MVP/batting title years were incredible.
Thanks. Watching him in the mid-2000’s was a lot of fun. The gold refractor is one of my favorites.