As Albert Pujols and the St. Louis Cardinals took on the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, the future Hall of Famer showed that while he’s nowhere near the player that he once was on a night-in, night-out basis, he can still turn back the clock.
Pujols did just that Wednesday.
Playing in the same stadium where he debuted as a Major Leaguer more than 21 years ago, Pujols launched the 687th home run of his storied career.
April 2, 2001 – Pujols gets his first MLB hit at Coors Field.
August 10, 2022 – Pujols gets his 687th home run at Coors Field. pic.twitter.com/wnIfpMkF6i
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 11, 2022
But it wasn’t just about one at-bat. Pujols was only a triple short of hitting for the cycle. He went 4-for-5 on the day and helped the Cardinals win 9-5.
And on the same night that a rookie in his MLB debut did something that nobody as young as him had ever done before, Pujols went the other way.
At 42, Pujols became the oldest player in nearly 90 years to record four hits with a home run in the same game.
42-years-young, @PujolsFive 👏 pic.twitter.com/gQ6lkzvjvF
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) August 11, 2022
The MLB world paid tribute to the throwback performance from Pujols.
I have always thought Pujols has such a beautiful swing. I never get tired of seeing this. https://t.co/Le99YzfSmH
— David Ray (@DavidARay) August 11, 2022
Every time #Rockies telecast puts up a Albert Pujols stat or the guys mention one, my response is “that’s crazy!” What a phenomenal player and career.
— Peter Groff (@realpetercgroff) August 11, 2022
Albert Pujols one of the very classiest men I’ve ever spent multiple times with. He just hit 687.
— Woody Paige (@woodypaige) August 11, 2022
Imagine if Albert Pujols played his entire career in Coors Field.
— Cole Douglas Claybourn (@ColeClaybourn) August 11, 2022
Pujols is already fifth on the all-time MLB home run list and is now only nine short of tying Alex Rodriguez and 13 short of No. 700.
Anyone getting to see Pujols play this season should consider themselves lucky. These are the final games of a surefire Hall of Famer and one of the greatest players in MLB history.
But the fans at Coors Field on Wednesday got an even bigger treat. He doesn’t have many games left to play and certainly won’t have many more like this one.
[St. Louis Cardinals, SportsCenter]
