11 years after leaving the St. Louis Cardinals for a big money deal with the Los Angeles Angels, Albert Pujols has returned to the plate on the team where he first became a superstar.
Batting fifth as a designated hitter today, the 42-year-old slugger made his return to the Cardinals against the Pittsburgh Pirates today. He flied out to left field, but not before a massive ovation from the Busch Stadium crowd.
It was his first plate appearance for the Cardinals at Busch Stadium since Game 7 of the 2011 World Series. Pujols had two runs in that game in a 6-2 win as the Cardinals won the World Series. He would enter free agency weeks later.
Cardinals fans were overjoyed to see their franchise legend back on the field for them today. Tears of joy were spread publicly on Twitter:
All the feels. 🥺🤩 https://t.co/5HDL62SPxw
— Reggie Wilson (@ReggieWilsonTV) April 7, 2022
i cannot believe this is real life. https://t.co/TB3FN06Sby
— Jasmyn Wimbish (@JasmynWimbish) April 7, 2022
Emotional https://t.co/LpgFJe0Jw6
— Kev (@_KVNYNG) April 7, 2022
The emotions ðŸ˜ðŸ˜ðŸ˜¢ https://t.co/mdKVHNebuh
— danny (@danny_TMT) April 7, 2022
Albert Pujols was a big impact hitter from the day he entered the league in 2001. In his first 10 seasons he made nine All-Stars, six Silver Sluggers, two Golden Gloves, three MVP awards and Rookies of the Year honors.
Pujols led Major League Baseball in runs five times and in home runs once. He finished top 10 in MVP voting in every single year.
Perhaps most important of all, he led the Cardinals to two World Series titles – one in 2006 and one in 2011.
There’s little doubt that Pujols is closer to the end of his career than the beginning. But if this is a farewell tour of sorts, Cardinals fans will be happy to be a part of it.
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