Albert Pujols spent 11 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and when the slugger one day enters the Hall of Fame, he’ll probably be wearing their hat on his plaque. After he was released by the Los Angeles Angels earlier this season, Pujols signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, which meant he’d be able to return to St. Louis this season, perhaps for the final time.
The Dodgers visited Busch Stadium this week to take on the Cardinals and Pujols received a standing ovation when he walked up to the plate for the first time there since 2019. That ovation was a bit premature because afterward he then launched a home run 386 feet away for a historic home run. Just like he used to do here.
“You can’t write this stuff!” You’re telling us.
Major League Baseball fans and media loved the moment, which was quintessential baseball.
In his 11 seasons in St. Louis, Pujols collected 2,073 hits, 445 home runs, and a .328/.420/.617 slash line. He also won three Most Valuable Player Awards, two World Series championships, a Rookie of the Year Award, six Silver Sluggers, and a pair of Gold Gloves. He’s also seen a resurgence of a sort since joining the Dodgers, hitting .261 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs.
Pujols now has 679 home runs in his career, which puts him at fifth all-time. He trails Alex Rodriguez by 18. The only question now is if he’ll return for a 22nd season and try to pass ARod and reach 700.