The boy who struck out Joe Mauer

Twins catcher Joe Mauer struck out only once in 222 at-bats in his high school career at Cretin-Derham Hall.  It happened in his senior year in the 2000 state tournament.  Paul Feiner struck out Mauer and has been in hiding, so to speak, ever since. He most likely will watch the ALDS  from an undisclosed location.

Feiner gave an e-mail interview in 2006, writing that being known as the kid who struck out Joe Mauer  "Makes my stomach cringe with feelings of extraordinary self-indulgence… I feel as deserving of this attention as Paris Hilton  [is of] an Oscar nomination."

Mauer also singled and homered off Feiner in the game.   Feiner said the two never spoke about the strikeout.

Mauer has only struck out an average of  68 times a season in his seven-year big league career.

``I hear about the strikeout three or four times a week,’’ Feiner wrote. ``My oldest brother's friends are the worst about bringing it up. The shadow that does or does not follow me will be proportional to [Mauer's career]. He looks like a hall of famer. If he blows out a knee and is never the same, I'm not answering these questions or having relatives bring it up at reunions."