Albert

Pujols

Unlike most recipients of this award, Pujols wasn’t returning from any sort of major injury or illness -- he simply returned to relevance. Pujols surpassed 300 plate appearances for the first time since 2019 and wound up crushing 24 home runs while slashing .270/.345/.550 over 351 plate appearances in his farewell tour.

Pujols had a terrific second half this season in St. Louis en route to joining the highly exclusive 700 home run club, but he’ll go forward with the plan to hang up his cleats for good. The 42-year-old -- 43 in January -- finishes with 3,384 hits, 703 homers, 2,218 RBI, and a lifetime .296/.374/.544 batting line across 22 major league seasons. He was an 11-time All-Star, a three-time NL MVP, and he won two World Series rings (2006, 2011) during his prime years with the Cardinals. Cooperstown awaits.

It would have been unthinkable a few months ago seeing Pujols hitting in the two hole against righty Zack Wheeler, but he’s turned back the clock and been awesome in the second half. The Cards’ full lineup looks like this: Lars Nootbaar RF, Pujols DH, Paul Goldschmidt 1B, Nolan Arenado 3B, Brendan Donovan 2B, Dylan Carlson CF, Corey Dickerson LF, Yadier Molina C, Tommy Edman SS.

Mitch Keller retired Pujols in each of his first two plate appearances, but in the sixth inning he hung a curveball and the future Hall of Famer lined it over the left-field wall for a two-run shot. Pujols had been tied with Babe Ruth on the all-time RBI list but now is in the No. 2 spot by himself with 2,216. He’s gone deep in back-to-back games and his 16 homers since August 14 are more than anyone else in baseball (yes, including Aaron Judge’s 15).

The Cardinals decided to pull Pujols, Adam Wainwright and Yadier Molina all at the same time in the fifth inning, even though it clearly harmed their chances of winning. Of course, that’s the kind of performance art a team can get away after already having clinched a division. With the three RBI today, Pujols tied Babe Ruth for second on the all-time list at 2,214. He’s 83 behind Henry Aaron for first place.

It was a solo shot off Johan Oviedo. Pujols also walked tonight. He has seven homers and 18 RBI in 81 plate appearances this month.

Dickerson will take a seat in favor of Albert Pujols who is functioning as the Cardinals designated hitter on Friday night against Johan Oviedo and the Pirates. On the season, Dickerson is hitting .266/.296/.392 with five homers and 30 RBI in 277 plate appearances.

Pujols had quite the historical night on Friday. With a runner on base in the third inning, he went deep off Andrew Heaney for his 699th home run. The 42-year-old slugger couldn’t wait any longer to reach the legendary milestone, launching his 700th home run in the fourth inning off Phil Bickford. Pujols joins Babe Ruth, Henry Aaron, and Barry Bonds as the only members of the 700 home run club.

Every Pujols at-bat is must-see TV down the stretch, as the future Hall of Famer sits just two homers shy of 700 for his illustrious career. He did manage one of two Cardinals hits in Wednesday’s shutout loss, albeit just a humble single. The wait continues.

Pujols was the only Cardinals batter to finish with multiple hits in the shutout loss. No homers, though, as we continue to wait out the end of what’s been a beautiful second-half run for Pujols, who currently sits at 698 career long balls. Overall this season, the future Hall of Fame slugger is slashing .261/.338/.514 with 19 homers and 53 RBI across 276 at-bats.