2012 Sega Card Gen: Joe Mauer Rare

Loose translation of the back:

During his high school days, he was a catcher in baseball, and a quarterback in football, he'd shine as an MVP in both, then join the Twins as the first overall pick in the 2002 draft. He's won the batting title a record setting three times, he earned the MVP in the 2009, his superstar reputation is well established. His caught stealing percentage is also high and, at the moment, his the best offensive and defensive catcher in the major leagues.

Joe Mauer in Sega Card Gen was nothing short of elite. Makes sense given how the late 2000's/early 2010's were when he was at the height of his powers. The in-game stats on the back of the foil here are pretty insane. His contact was stupid high (especially for a catcher), his throwing arm and defense were also pretty up there. Just the kind of guy every fan wants their catcher to be but they never will be.

I can't remember if it was the rare foil from 2011 or perhaps the rare from 2010, but one of them back when SCG was around went for a huge amount of yen (think like $200 USD). Because that one was the one where he had the highest cumulative game stats out of every catcher ever. I stubbornly stuck with Jorge Posada as a catcher on my teams and never got anywhere in the playoffs. Meanwhile every single championship team I saw participating in tournaments and all that made sure to have some rare form of Mauer on their roster, he was that good and that much of a difference maker.

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