[143], Pujols finished the season with 173 hits (tied for ninth with Aramis Ramrez), 29 doubles (a career-low), and 105 runs scored (tied for third with Justin Upton behind Ryan Braun's 109 and Matt Kemp's 115). [7][12] Tampa Bay Rays scout Fernando Arango recommended that his team sign Pujols, and quit his job when Tampa Bay failed to do so. Pujols is the all-time leader in double plays hit into. [77], Pujols returned to the playoffs as the Cardinals won the NL Central for the second year in a row. [52] He won his second Silver Slugger Award[53] and first Sporting News Player of the Year Award. If it's not there, take it. [213], At the beginning of the 2020 season, Pujols (at the age of 40) was the oldest player in the major leagues. Pujols stood, hitched up his pants and walked over to Keith, who now sat on a small ballpark utility vehicle . [209][210] He had the second-slowest sprint speed of all major league players, at 22.5 feet/second. [226] With his longtime number 5 having been assigned to Corey Seager, Pujols chose the number 55; both as nods to his two former teams, as well as the Bible. Albert Pujols announced Monday that he and wife Deidre are splitting up, days after she underwent successful surgery to remove a brain tumor. Albert Pujols have five kids with his wife Deidre. Clark served as the Cardinals' hitting coach during the early part of Pujols' tenure in St. Louis. [49], In 157 games, Pujols hit 43 home runs (fourth in the league, behind Jim Thome, Richie Sexson and Bonds) and had 124 RBI's (tied with Sexson for fourth and behind Preston Wilson, Gary Sheffield and Thome). [315] Among other activities, the foundation hosts events for people with Down syndrome. It took 12 hours, maybe even less, to get a deal done once we received a call from the Cardinals," adding: "We have the best fans in baseball. Albert Pujols was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1999 MLB June Amateur Draft from Metropolitan . [239] On June 7 against the Tampa Bay Rays, Pujols singled for his 3,320th career hit, passing Paul Molitor for tenth all-time in hits. [179], Before the 2015 season, Pujols enjoyed his first offseason in his time with the Angels in which he was both free of injury or recuperation from injury. Among active MLB players, he trailed only Alex Rodriguez, with eight. [309] A 10-foot, 1,100-lb. [187] On May 2, Pujols became the 20th player all-time to amass 5,000 career total bases. Albert Pujols is currently married. Pujols uses a 32.5-ounce bat against right-handed pitchers, but he uses a 33-ounce bat against left-handers to avoid trying to pull the ball when he swings. "[144][145] He grounded into a major-league leading 29 double plays. [250] He hit No. So I feel 5-5, double grace. Her sons' names are Albert Jr., Ezra Pujols, and Esther Grace Pujols. during home games as early as June, Pujols again finished second to Bonds in MVP voting. Notes: Through 2017 season. "I actually hit it off Octavio Dotel, I think I told you that," Pujols said . Growing up, Pujols practiced baseball using limes for balls and a milk carton for a glove. [113] On July 3, he hit his 10th career grand slam against Weathers in a 74 victory over the Reds, breaking Musial's record for most grand slams by a Cardinal. [312], In 2008, Pujols teamed up with St. Louis Soccer United, a group looking to bring a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise to the St. Louis area. [78] He had five hits in nine at-bats with four runs scored and two RBI in the NLDS as the Cardinals swept the Padres. He has played Major League Baseball (MLB) for the 'St. Louis Cardinals' and for the 'Los Angeles Angels.'. Deidre suggested a year ago that Albert would retire after the 2021 season , but he has since signed a one-year deal to return the St. Louis Cardinals. [191] He had the 6th-highest salary in the league, at $25 million. The Pujols family immigrated to the United . Overall in 99 games, Pujols batted .258 with 101 hits, 19 doubles, 17 home runs, 64 RBI, and 49 runs scored. [27] At midseason, Pujols became the first Cardinals rookie since Luis Arroyo in 1955 to make the All-Star Game. His father, Bienvenido Pujols, was a softball pitcher who struggled with alcoholism. More Facts of Albert Pujols. [12], Pujols began his minor league career in 2000 playing third base with the Peoria Chiefs of the single-A Midwest League. He and Aaron are the only two players to amass 3,000 hits, 700 home runs, and 2,200 RBIs. Pujols was introduced to baseball early in life by his father, who was a popular pitcher in the Dominican Republic. [54], After receiving many awards in his first three seasons, Pujols was rewarded monetarily for his accomplishments on February 20, 2004, when he signed a seven-year, $100million contract extension with a $16million club option for 2011 with no-trade provisions. Consider the decline of Albert Pujols (age: 34; OPS: .810). Carpenter noted after the game that Pujols' slump earlier in the year was over: "He continues to do great things, there's no doubt about it," he said. Her daughter's name is Sophia Pujols. [218] He was tied for the 7th-highest salary in the league, at $29 million. [183] In the last game of the season, on October 4, Pujols hit his 40th home run, the seventh time he had done so in a season. [328], During the offseason, Pujols lives in St. [184], For the 2015 season, he batted .244/.307/.480, and he had the lowest batting average on balls in play (.217) of all major league players. Aside from her four children, Deidre has a daughter from a previous relationship who has Down syndrome from birth. [30], The Cardinals finished the 2001 season with a 9369 record and advanced to the playoffs as the National League wild card team. The Cardinals offered Pujols a 10-year, $210million deal (with $30million deferred), but Pujols rejected it. The oldest is Isabella, who was born in Deidre from a previous relationship. [11] On June 11, he was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left calf muscle. [21] Cardinals executive John Vuch, backed this up, calling the link between Pujols and Bonilla an "old wives' tale" and stating that the competition for the last roster spot was actually between Bonilla and John Mabry. [88][89] He finished second to Howard in MVP voting and won the NL Gold Glove Award for first base. "[139] On June 19 against the Royals, Wilson Betemit collided with Pujols, inducing a small fracture his left wrist and keeping him inactive until July 5. Pujols -- who spent the majority of his career with the Cardinals and Angels -- is a 2-time World Series champ, 3-time National League MVP and 10-time All-Star. [58], Pujols' highlights later in the season included a July game in which he hit five RBI and three home runs in a thrilling win over the rival Chicago Cubs, and another in which he broke up a no-hitter by Giants pitcher Dustin Hermanson. He and Deidre have been married since 2000. On May 6, 2021, the Angels designated Pujols for assignment. [91], Led by Pujols and Carpenter, the Cardinals won the NL Central and reached the playoffs for the third year in a row. [11] Though his stellar play had Cardinals' fans chanting "M-V-P!" [146], In Game 2 of the NLDS against the Phillies on October 2, Pujols had a game-winning RBI single against Cliff Lee in the 54 victory. Foxx and Rodriguez are the only two players besides Pujols to have 10 consecutive years of 30 home runs and 100 RBI. He said he was confident there was going to be "a lot more. "It's the same swing every time," former teammate Lance Berkman once said. The couple has 5 children, Albert Jr., Sophia, Ezra, Esther, and Isabella (Deidre's daughter from the previous relationship). [173] However, on February 10, 2014, Clark apologized and retracted his accusations against Pujols, saying he had "no knowledge whatsoever" that Pujols ever used PEDs. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). The experienced baseball star has amassed a career total of 685 home runs so far. [56][57] On June 16, he hit a walk-off home run against Reds pitcher Mike Matthews in the 10th inning of a 43 victory. He was among the league leaders in batting average (.327, sixth) and home runs (32, tied for tenth). [66], The Cardinals won the NL Central, aided by the MVP and pitcher Chris Carpenter, who won 15 games and had a 3.46 ERA his first season with the team. [230] Pujols subsequently announced that he would play in the Dominican Professional Baseball League (LIDOM) in the offseason, for Leones del Escogido. 0:00. Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals hits his 700th career home run against the Dodgers on Sept. 23, 2022, at Dodger Stadium. [242] He was also selected to participate in the Home Run Derby, where he advanced to the second round and fell one home run short of eventual winner Juan Soto.[243]. Albert and Deidre have five children together. He was then 18 and she 21. 697", "Time-tested Waino-Yadi battery sets record that may never be broken", "MLB live updates: Cardinals at Dodgers game on 09/23/2022 free with MLB Gameday", "Pujols lets emotions flow after joining 700 Home Run Club", "Pujols honored pregame, then slugs 702nd HR", "Cardinals' Albert Pujols passes Babe Ruth for second on all-time RBI list with career home run No. [48] Pujols hit his 114th home run on September 20 in a game against the Astros, which tied him with Kiner for the most home runs by a player in his first three seasons. In 2009, Pujols set the major league single-season record for assists by a first baseman with 185.[11][264]. This could have happened last week in St.Louis, which would have been awesome to me, but to allow it to happen tonight in front of my family and friends and people who really care and love me is special. [59][60] During a September game against the Rockies, he earned his 500th RBI, joining Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams as the only players to have 500 RBI in their first four seasons. pimps trafficking in kids. The couple was blessed with five children, three of whom are daughters, and two of them are sons. [11] Pujols hit a grand slam and turned an unassisted triple play in the first game of his only college season. Pujols was raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, mostly by his grandmother, America Pujols, and 10 of his uncles and aunts. [33] The Cardinals, however, were eliminated in five games, and Pujols had just two hits in 18 at-bats. [11] At the end of the 2002 season, Chris Haft of MLB.com called him "an outstanding hitter. "If you know the bible," Pujols explained, "it's the number of grace. The net worth is $200 Million. The adorable babies are named Ezra, Isabella, Albert Jr, Esther, and Sophia Pujols. 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