Albert Pujols, one of the greatest hitters of all time is headed back to where it all began for one last hurrah. The prolific slugger signed a one-year deal worth $2.5 million with the St. Louis Cardinals. It was also announced it will be the last season of his career. “This is it for me,” Pujols told reporters. “This is my last run.”
Albert Pujols announces that this will indeed be the final year of his career. His dream of going into the Hall of Fame together with close friend Yadier Molina should be realized.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 28, 2022
Over his 21 year career, Pujols has played for the Cardinals, Angles, and Dodgers — hitting .297, with 679 homers, 2,150 RBIs, and an OPS of .919. He spent the first 11 years of his career with the Cardinals, hitting .328, with 445 homers, 1,329 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.037. He also racked up the accolades, winning Rookie of the Year, three NL MVPs, two Gold Gloves, six Silver Sluggers, and was a nine-time All-Star.
Before spending the last 10 years in Los Angeles, Pujols made sure to terrorize opposing pitchers on a nightly basis, but he always found a way to up his game against the Nationals.
Even before they moved from Montreal and became the Nationals, Pujols always found a way to punish the franchise. In 75 games against Montreal/Washington, he’s slashing an absurd .345/.442/.694, with 24 homers, 56 RBIs, and an OPS of 1.135. After leaving the Cardinals he would still find a way to always make his presence felt.
Last year with the Dodgers, Pujols hit the game-winning single in the top of the seventh to beat the Nats 5-1. This shouldn’t come as a surprise as he has always hit exceptionally well at Nationals Park, slashing .344/.446/.853, with an OPS of 1.298.
The Cardinals and Pujols will face the Nationals seven times this year — July 29-31 and Sep. 5-8. He is 21 homers away from 700 and has already had some massive milestone games against Washington in his career — hitting his 400th and 500th career homer in 2010 and 2014 respectively.
Before Freddie Freeman, Pujols was one of the original Nationals’ killers and the franchise gets to face him one final time.