Willie R. Tubbs, FISM News
Had he never connected on the 700th home run of his career, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols would have retired as an unquestioned legend. Now that he’s eclipsed the mark, Pujols will occupy rarefied air.
The big moment was actually a pair of moments that occurred Friday night in Los Angeles as the Cardinals played the Dodgers. In a poetic twist, Hollywood became the scene of what will be among the last, great defining moments of Pujols’ 22-year Big League career.
Pujols homered off of Dodgers lefty Andrew Heaney in the third for his 699th career homer, then crushed an offering from right-hander Phil Bickford in the fourth to officially join Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, and Babe Ruth as the only members of the 700-home run club.
“What a special night,” Pujols said. He later added, “When it’s really gonna hit me is when I’m done, at the end of the season, when I’m retired, and probably a moment or two after that I can look at the numbers.
“Look, don’t get me wrong, I know what my place is in this game. But since Day 1, when I made my debut, it was never about numbers, it was never about chasing numbers. It was always about winning championships and trying to get better in this game. And I had so many people that taught me the right way early in my career, and that’s how I’ve carried myself for 22 years that I’ve been in the big leagues. That’s why I really don’t focus on the numbers. I will one day, but not right now.”
A devout Christian, Pujols has a reputation for being one of the classiest pros in the game. In addition to his many on-field achievements – he was a three-time National League MVP, won two golden gloves and six silver slugger awards, and twice led the National league in home runs – Pujols has a charitable foundation that supports those suffering from Down syndrome as well as other disabilities.
Pujols also has a reputation for being a generally kind person to fans and teammates alike, a theory that was put to the test moments after his 700th home run cleared the outfield wall.
Baseball etiquette holds that the fan who catches a historic ball should trade the item to the player for whom the ball has become a meaningful keepsake. In the case of Pujols, the fan at Dodger Stadium refused, but Pujols said he did not mind.
“Souvenirs are for the fans,” Pujols said. “If they wanna keep it, they can. At the end of the day, I don’t focus on material stuff. I think I have the bat, the uniform, helmet, things that are special to me. At the end of the day, I think that’s why the fans come here — to have a special moment of history. So if they wanna keep that baseball, I don’t have any problem with that.”
Appropriately, Pujols’ family and friends were on hand in Los Angeles.
“It’s amazing how God works,” Pujols said. “This could’ve happened last week in St. Louis, which probably would have been awesome. But to allow it to happen tonight, having my family and friends and people who really care and love me see me — it’s special to me.”
Pujols will retire at the end of the season.
The Cardinals’ regular season will end on Oct. 5 in Pittsburgh, but as St. Louis sits in first place in the NL Central, seven games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers in second place, Pujols’ career is almost certain to end in the 2022 postseason.