Albert Pujols is one of the best hitters of all time, according to Joe Buck. There is a time and a place for it.
Albert Pujols became the fourth member of the 700 home run club on Friday night when he launched two home runs in front of a packed Dodger Stadium crowd.
The first home run came off Andrew Heaney in the third. In the fourth, Phil Bickford gave up a three-run shot. Pujols drove in all of his team's runs as the St. LouisCardinals held a five-run lead.
Pujols ran to the backstop to embrace Adrian Beltre, one of his closest friends. He wrapped him in a hug after finding him.
Pujols is the fifth player in the 700 home run club. He was the only one to hit both numbers on the same night. Pujols now hasPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWikisPukiWiki
It's fitting, perhaps, that the 42-year-old designated hitter accomplished an incredible milestone here at Dodger Stadium, the place that he has often said helped motivate him to play one final season in 2022.
Pujols joined the Dodgers last May, shortly after his release from the LA Angels, and was rejuvenated while serving as a part-time starter and late-game pinch-hitter over the last five-plus months. He was a major influence on the older members of the group and was affectionately called "Tio Albert."
The Dodgers played a tribute to Pujols, with many players providing messages. The Dodgers' fans and their organization were thanked by Pujols after he grabbed the mic to thank them.
When asked what the atmosphere at Dodger Stadium meant to him, Pujols said it brought him joy, not just to him, but to his family. It brought something inside me that the little boy was missing.
Pujols played his best baseball at the end of the season. He passed Alex Rodriguez for fourth place on the all-time home runs list when he hit 13 home runs in 47 second-half games. The surge coincides with the team running away from the rest of the league.
Pujols started the season as a platoon option at designated hitter, but he has evolved into one of the team's most consistent hitters and is basically an everyday player as they make their way to the playoffs.
Pujols now has 21 home runs on the year, giving him 18 20- home runs for his career, third-most in history behind only Bonds and Babe Ruth. He and Ted Williams are the only two players to hit 20 home runs. He has four multi home runs in major league history.
Pujols doesn't chase numbers. I did not chase 100 and got 699. Trusting my process is the same thing.
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