What a player The Machine has been. In his final season in the MLB, Albert Pujols made history and became only the 4th player in MLB history to reach the 700-home run club as he scored his 700th last night against the Dodgers.
What a season it has been for home run history chasing. With New York Yankees Right Fielder Aaron Judge only 1 more home run away from tying, and two away from breaking, Roger Maris’ most HR in a single season record (61) for the American League, having Albert Pujols break into the legendary 700-home run club in the same season was fitting.
Pujols has been one of the very best hitters the MLB has ever seen during his 21-year career with the St Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels, and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
In fact, he’s actually the 4th greatest home run hitter in MLB history if one only measured with pure stats. His 700 HRs falls just behind Babe Ruth’s 714 (3rd all-time), Hank Aaron’s 755 (2nd all-time), and Barry Bond’s 762 (1st all-time).
Though, in truth, Pujols should really be 3rd all-time right now as Barry Bonds was a notorious steroids user and has been barred from the hall of fame for it, which is a claim that cannot be said for Pujols when he retires.
Anyway, last night’s triple scoring HR was probably a bittersweet moment for all Cardinals fans as it was yet another reminder that The Machine’s career is coming to an end. Like I said, the oldest player currently in baseball today, has already come out and said that this would be his last season in the Big Times.
And Cardinals fans can’t really complain. He’s been one of their greatest players ever as he’s not only hit over 466 home runs (and counting) with the Cardinals, but also helped them win the World Series in 2006 and again in 2011.
Simply put, Pujols has more than earned his long-awaited retirement and guaranteed place in Cooperstown.
Yet, that retirement is going to have to wait until at least October as the Cardinals are currently 1st in the NL Central with a record of 89-63, putting them eight wins ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers.
Wouldn’t it be nice if Pulos went out as a champion with the team that drafted him (all the way back in 1999) and made him into the great player he is today. It’s going to be difficult overcoming the Dodgers, Mets and, Braves in the playoffs, but if anyone can will his team to do it, it’s Albert Pujols.
Images Source: Featured Image: (Wikimedia Creative Commons License/Author: Barbara Moore) (Barbara moore, CC BY-SA 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons)
