NBC Sports | Blyleven: MLB has never seen a catcher like Mauer

As Joe Mauer continues to lead all of baseball with a batting average north of .370, it’s time to look at his accomplishments and give some context to them. To explain how difficult it is to do what he’s doing, and how impressive it is what he’s accomplished already.

As you probably know, the Twins star became the first catcher to win a batting title when he hit .347 in 2006 at the age of 23. In 2008 he won another when he hit .328. This season, he enters Sunday’s action hitting a league-best .371.

Three batting titles in four seasons? It’s a very real possibility, and the kind of thing only accomplished by the great hitters. Larry Walker did it (1998-99, ’01). Tony Gwynn won three straight (87-89), then four more in a row (94-97). Wade Boggs also won four straight (85-88), and Rod Carew captured six in seven seasons (72-75, 77-78). That is the kind of company Mauer is keeping.

The difference is that Mauer is doing it all while playing catcher, and playing it very well.

Put simply, what Joe Mauer is doing is unprecedented.