When the St. Louis Cardinals inked Albert Pujols to a one-year, $2.5 million contract before the start of the season, it was largely thought to be a move that would provide a proper ending to a career that began and flourished in St. Louis while also giving the Cardinals a possible weapon against left-handers.
You can strike the “possible” from that sentence because, in the last few weeks of the last regular season of his illustrious 22-year career, Pujols is showing the St. Louis Cardinals and the rest of Major League Baseball that there is still plenty of power left in his bat.
Albert Pujols is showing the year that was supposed to be a farewell tour could also be a historic one
On Saturday night in Phoenix, Pujols launched two home runs, reaching 692 for his career and putting him within range of the 700-homer plateau with 44 games left for the Cardinals. We did the math on what it would take for Pujols to reach 700 in this article after he pounded a pinch-hit grand slam on Thursday against the Colorado Rockies, and it’s certainly becoming more and more possible with nights like Pujols had on Saturday.
Fun with numbers: Albert Pujols has hit at least 25 homers against nine different MLB teams.
— David Brandt (@davidbrandtAP) August 21, 2022
Arizona became the 9th tonight.
Sure, there is something to celebrated about what Pujols has done on the diamond in his career, a journey that will certainly lead him to Cooperstown. However, what started as a feel-good story and chance for Cardinals fans to show their appreciation for what he has done for the franchise (including winning three NL MVP awards) has morphed into a real chase of history as Pujols keeps showing off his vintage power swing.
Cosign @DannyMacTV
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 21, 2022
IS THIS REAL?! pic.twitter.com/CjJajPZdYo
Oh, and there’s also the matter of Pujols playing a key role in St. Louis trying to secure not only a spot in the postseason, but the NL Central title as well.
Albert Pujols becomes the first player in #MLB history with four hits and two homers in the same game at the age of 42 or older.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) August 21, 2022
Between now and the end of the season, plenty of fans will have a chance to tip their caps to Pujols for his incredible career. However, those same fans will be watching to see if Pujols can become just the fourth player in MLB history to swat 700 homers, potentially etching his name alongside Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), and Babe Ruth (714).
Albert Pujols is showing exactly what it means to “go out in style” by hitting home runs and generating excitement throughout MLB about a potential date he could well have with history.