Columnist | Minnesota Twins

La Velle E. Neal III is a sports columnist for the Star Tribune who previously covered the Twins for more than 20 years.

A native of Chicago, La Velle has covered the Minnesota Twins since 1998. He also covered the Kansas City Royals for the Kansas City Star from 1995 through 1997. A graduate of the University of Illinois - Chicago, La Velle is a former president of the Baseball Writers Association of America.


Neal: Twins lose again vs. baseball's best, but they can turn trend around

The Twins entered their series this week against Philadelphia with a 2-19 mark this season against the five other teams with a better record than them, but that trend can change.


Neal: Mauer had his Cooperstown moment ... next year, it's Ichiro

St. Paul's hometown hero was treated right on his Hall of Fame weekend.


Mauer is inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame in front of thousands of Twins fans

Former Twins star catcher Joe Mauer was enshrined in the Baseball Hall on Sunday in Cooperstown. The St. Paul native, who wore No. 7 in his career, is the seventh player to wear a Twins cap on his plaque.


Friends, family and former Twins flood Cooperstown ahead of Mauer ceremony

Despite massive travel delays Friday, a host of familiar faces arrived in time to help settle Joe Mauer's jitters before he officially becomes a Hall of Famer.


Seven memorable moments in Joe Mauer's career

Joe Mauer enters the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, elected on the first ballot five years after his retirement. Here are seven memorable moments in St. Paul Joe's career, from high school to the pros.


Mauer's 2009 Twins season made baseball history

Joe Mauer's third league batting title as a catcher is unmatched in MLB annals.


Neal: A tip for Mauer: Get ready for your next career as a Hall of Famer

Joe Mauer's induction into the exclusive Hall of Fame club this weekend will only be the beginning of many cherished memories and events.


Mauer makes four Hall of Famers for St. Paul's Cooperstown Corridor

Former Twins star catcher Joe Mauer is the fourth in a line of great products of Minnesota's capital city.


Neal: It's time for Twins to get what they can get for Kepler

Max Kepler is among several lefthanded hitters not yet producing for the club this season. With his contract expiring after this season, trading the longest-tenured Twin is the right move.


Neal: Oliva hit hard by the deaths of two Hall of Fame brothers

Orlando Cepeda's death on Friday night followed Willie Mays' earlier this month, and Twins great Tony Oliva was close to both.