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.
Albert Pujols gets a huge ovation from the St. Louis crowd in his first at bat there with the Dodgers and proceeds to hit his 679th career home run pic.twitter.com/Nuh6GELObv
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) September 8, 2021
Back in St. Louis once again, @PujolsFive goes yard in his first at-bat!
Amazing. pic.twitter.com/dstkZHKug1
— MLB (@MLB) September 7, 2021
“You can’t write this stuff!” You’re telling us.
this was right after Molina stood out in front of the plate to give the fans a few moments for an ovation. pic.twitter.com/NP8aQ0VD8e
— Ryan Fagan (@ryanfagan) September 7, 2021
Major League Baseball fans and media loved the moment, which was quintessential baseball.
Will always love Albert Pujols. pic.twitter.com/jE0rHyW2L5
— Cards Nation (@CardsNation13) September 7, 2021
Albert Pujols deposits one into the left field stands. Home run.
He's getting cheered. You love to see it, folks. Amazing.
— Brenden Schaeffer🎳 (@bschaeffer12) September 7, 2021
Albert Pujols has hit a home run at Busch Stadium in 2001 and 2021.
Do you know how insane that is? pic.twitter.com/P0BOwcSMND
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) September 7, 2021
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.