by Mike Hally
In the spring of 2022, I was reunited with my childhood friend Joe Mauer. Our story started when we were both seniors at Cretin-Derham Hall High School in St. Paul. At that time, Joe was an athlete in three sports: football, basketball, and baseball. One day, he noticed that I was sitting alone at the lunch table. He invited me to sit with him and his friends, who were also athletes. This was what one might call the cool table.
It made me feel very happy to know that this athlete would invite me to sit with him and his friends at lunch. After lunch, he would make sure I got to my next class. Over time, other people at the table would do the same.
After graduation, Joe was drafted by the Minnesota Twins, with whom he spent his entire 15-year career. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. in 2024.
In the spring of 2022, Joe Schmit, a long-time sports reporter in the Twin Cities, arranged a reunion at the same table with Joe and me. It was very emotional to see him again and thank him for his kindness back in high school.
A year after the reunion, Joe Schmit called to let me know that a children’s book about Joe Mauer had been written, “The Right Thing to Do: the Joe Mauer Story.” I was mentioned, along with Joe’s philosophy of being kind to others who may need help.
My mom and I attended the signing at Target Field, where I was asked to say a few words. This was a few days before the Hall of Fame announcement in 2024. I thanked Joe for being kind to me back in high school. I was also presented with an Emmy Award for the reunion segment, which had been transcribed into Braille.
In November 2024, Joe Schmit called to let me know The Right Thing to Do was being turned into a musical. He wanted Michael, the playwright, to get some information. Michael asked me several very specific questions. For instance, how old was I when Joe and I first met? Also, what had my time at Cretin-Derham Hall been like before then?
Fast forward to April of this year. I was given the chance to meet Noah, the young man portraying the high school version of me. In addition to being blind, he is also autistic. We discussed everything from what it was like to meet Joe Mauer, to what cane tip I used in high school.
On April 19, 2026, I attended a special performance of the play at Stages Theater in the Twin Cities. The cast was a very talented group of young actors. In addition to telling Joe’s story, it also incorporated excerpts from his Hall of Fame speech, as well as from my reunion. By far, my favorite musical number was “The Only Blind Kid in High School,” the solo sung by Noah. He is a very talented young man.
Afterwards, there was a post-show discussion. I talked about how talented Noah was, and what a memory he has for statistics. My mom observed that Noah has some of the same mannerisms that I do.
Overall, the experience of going from a long-time friendship to a stage musical was very unique. I never thought I would see my life portrayed on stage by someone else.
All proceeds from “The Right Thing to Do: the Joe Mauer Story” benefit two charities: Thumbs Up, which helps those experiencing mental health issues, and Highland Friendship Club, which is special to Joe Mauer. They provide assistance to those with intellectual disabilities.
If you wish to obtain a copy of the book, go to Amazon, or joemauerbook.com. The book is not yet available in accessible formats.