Mauer joins Leyland as Legion Baseball alumni in Hall of Fame Class of 2024

The number of American Legion Baseball alumni enshrined in Cooperstown will increase to 87 when the Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 2024 is officially inducted on July 21.

Jim Leyland, who played Legion Baseball for Post 183 in Pemberville, Ohio, and Joe Mauer, who played a year for Post 606 in St. Paul, Minn., will join Adrian Beltre and Todd Helton in the Hall of Fame this year. The Contemporary Baseball Era Committee selected Leyland for induction in December, while the Baseball Writers Association of America (BBWAA) selected Beltre, Helton and Mauer. The BBWAA selections were announced Jan. 23.

Two other ALB alumni were on the BBWAA ballot, but neither Gary Sheffield (Post 248/Tampa, Fla.) nor Matt Holliday (Stillwater, Okla.) received the 75 percent of votes needed to be elected. It’s the end of the road on the BBWAA side for both, as Sheffield was in his 10th and final year of eligibility while Holliday — in his first year of eligibility — did not receive the 5 percent necessary to remain on the ballot.

Mauer became just the third catcher to be selected to the Hall of Fame in his first year on the ballot, joining Johnny Bench and Ivan Rodriguez. They played Legion Baseball as well — Bench in Anadarko, Okla., and Rodriguez for Post Vega Baja in Puerto Rico.

Mauer spent his entire 15-year career with the Minnesota Twins, winning batting titles in 2006, 2008 and 2009. He was also American League MVP in 2009.

Mauer becomes the third player with ties to Post 606 to reach the Baseball Hall of Fame, joining Paul Molitor and Dave Winfield.

Leyland won 1,769 games in 22 seasons as a manager with the Pirates, Marlins, Rockies and Tigers, winning the 1997 World Series in the Marlins’ fifth year of existence. He also managed Team USA to the 2017 World Baseball Classic title — four years after retiring from major league managing. Leyland was a three-time Manager of the Year, with Pittsburgh in 1990 and 1992 and with Detroit in 2006.