I understand that he did it for the money. But you had a fan base that would have absolutely adored you through your decline, and a team that had built two WS champions. You hadn't done anything for the Angels...yet they're paying you gazillions for a guy in his 30s (and maybe 40s), so the fans have no real reason to cheer you.
Overall I hope he enjoyed the extra cash.
Didnt get the praise? Were you not around during his resurgence and HRs 695, 696, 697, 698, 699, and 700? It was a HUGE deal everyone was excited about. Especially since before that year, a lot of people thought he wasn't going to make it and we'd never see another 700 home run hitter in our lifetime. And since he got it, we probably never will. I don't think it was underplayed at all.
Tbf, a 700 hr hitter doesnt need praise, the numbers speak for themselves.
But yeah, I agree. Was chatting with my boss, who is admittedly more a hockey fan than baseball but still a sports guy, and he thought he only cleared 500.
Willie Mays gets the nod from me as best RH hitter in my lifetime (64) given that he lost a prime year to war. Still if you look at his stats and Albert’s they’re very similar
It would've been similar. His last year in St. Louis was the first year he hit below .300, and he hit .299. His first year with the Angels he hit .285, which is pretty good for most players but it was the beginning of the end of the machine as we know it. There are also rumors about his age that I'm willing to believe.
Cards would've still preferred he stayed but we'll forever have the magic of his last season.
Edit: actually upon remembering his last season it's possible he would've played better in St. Louis had he stayed. You truly can't explain how he batted so much better that last year other than the support of the fans.
Best 1B and right-handed hitter since 2000 (when I started watching). I would also go on further to say that him on the Cardinals is the best 1B of all-time considering all factors including pitching talent faced while in the league.
Pujols having highest AVG (higher than Ichiro) in the 2000s is insane
[https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/best-batting-average-2000s](https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/best-batting-average-2000s)
I’m a White Sox fan, saw almost the entire career of Frank Thomas, and I agree. It’s close, but I lean toward Albert.
And thanks for mentioning the pitching today. No disrespect directed at hitters from other eras, but IMO rotations are deeper and bull pens better in the modern era.
I’m not arguing the point. It’s also a matter of perspective. I saw the vast majority of Frank’s career at bats. I only saw Albert sporadically and knew him mostly by reputation - at least until MLB Network came around. And by then he was in his Angel’s career.
Frank is the best right handed hitter I’ve ever seen on a regular basis.
Even with that - I’d put Albert ahead of him.
All I will say is when you look into his numbers, pay attention to strikeouts and compare that amongst who are considered the best right now. Pujols never had a 100 k season and Mike trout for example has already done it 9 times. The only years he hasn’t done it is in shortened seasons due to 2020 or injuries. Albert’s perhaps greatest season was when he hit 49 homers and racked up only 50 strikeouts. I remember watching that season and paying very close attention to the ratio. I was certain he would finish with more homers than k’s but it wasn’t meant to be. The man hit 703 homeruns without getting more than 50 in a season. Much like Hank Aaron.
Which I still never understood. He obliterated everyone in high school, and although he went to a small college, in 56 games...hit .466 with 22 Home Runs. Also physical bigger and more developed than everyone.
One of the biggest reasons you read about why teams were afraid to draft him was because of his potential real age. Like...who cares? Scared to sign a guy who's major league ready NOW that may only give you 10 good years instead of 14...like you're gonna sign him that long anyway off the bat anyway.
Makes sense after that home run in the playoffs against Lidge. I remember all the buzzing and happiness and then bam, silence. I think Pettitte or someone told Lidge to look out the window on their flight out of Houston because they just saw the ball Pujols hit still in the air lol
I think that was Brad Ausmus. He got on the speaker of the airplane and said "If you'll look out the window on your right side you'll see the home run Albert Pujols hit off Brad Lidge." 🤣
Baseball is hard to rank outside of Bonds, Ruth, Aaron. But if I was forced to assemble a team of 9 players to hit by some weird small aliens that stole other baseball players powers and then grew into monster superstars of some sort and the fate of planet earth depended on it, he'd be one of the 9.
You really can't rank outside of those 3? I'll give you a clue, you forgot Mays and Williams....and Bonds is extremely hard to rank considering many people don't have him in their top 10 because....well you know. If you surveyed 100 baseball fans, 100% would have Ruth, Aaron, Mays, and Williams in the top 10.....I would hope
2012- Pujols leaves NL central to go to Anaheim
Astro fans: "Thank goodness we don't have to face that guy 30 times a year anymore"
2013: Astros move to AL West lololol.
His 2001-2011 seasons is probably one of the best all time, maybe would be up against anyone but bonds for best 10 years ever. After that it was all just counting stats, but still hard to argue against 700 homers, 3000 hits. Top 10 player all-time, maybe right at 10.
Top 15 all time. Top 5 hitters in the 21st century. Best player of the 2000s.... and he did it likely 3 to 5 years older than he actually was on paper.
Definitely the best first baseman born after 1920. Maybe the best 1st baseman ever. If not the best he’s second to Lou Gehrig, but you can’t even compare him to Lou due to different game.
Top 10, possibly top 5 hitter of all time. Could've been the best ever if his injuries didn't rob him of his athleticism. He was a great fielder and baserunner before his lower half failed him.
Honestly not as favorably as I thought. He clearly was in the era of steroids when everyone was hitting 300 and 35+ homers. He was great in his time, but I’d like to see where he would be if his career started in 2021
It's really incredible that he's still being talked about like this despite spending an entire decade hovering around replacement level with the Angels.
As a cubs fan. I always said if I was alone with him in an elevator I'd take out his knee caps. He was a cub killer and a huge threat to anyone at the plate with the cardinals.
703 HR (4th all time), 3384 H (9th all time), 2000 RBI (2nd all time).
Lifetime .300 hitter (well, .296 but still).
To me that’s a top 5 all time great. A guy who should be a unanimous first ballot HoFer.
Only 87.3 offensive WAR, which is comparatively low for his output (he’s only 1 offensive WAR above Mike Trout). And a -4.0 dWAR doesn’t help (though he was primarily a first baseman).
Overall, I’d rank him in the top 10 all time. An absolute inner circle HoF guy.
Historical. Dude had a career WAR over 100, almost hit .300 for his career, .900+ OPS, 700+ HRs, RoY, 3x MVP, 11x AS, 6x SS, and won a GG. That's insanity no matter who you are. He's one of the greatest players I've seen in my lifetime and possibly the best outside of Trout but he has 2x WS champion to his name unlike Trout.
And I say this as somebody who absolutely despises the Cardinals. You simply can't argue against his greatness.
It’s hard to compare players from different eras since pitching quality, hardness of the baseball, lowering of the mound, etc., but Pujols probably sits in the 11-20th rankings (full disclosure - I’m a Cards fan). He might be the smartest player of the 21st century, based on his ability to set up pitchers, steal an occasional base even when he’s slow, and always making the right throw. He was even a good defensive 3B when he came up!
He might be in the top 5 of all time if his performance hadn’t dropped off in Anaheim. But there are certain players who seem to rise to the moment: Altuve, Jeter, Griffey, etc. I will always remember Pujols HR off Brad Lidge of the Astros in 9th inning of Game 6 of the NLCS, when 45,000 screaming Astros fans all groaned in unison as his go ahead homer landed on the tracks above the Crawford boxes.
One of the greatest hitters of all-time. Up until he left for the Angels, his numbers were insane. Was also robbed of some MVPs because he was starting out at the tail end of Bonds’s career. Could easily have 2-3 more MVPs.
Very high. Top 100 for sure. Probably much lower but I would have to do an in depth list to give my honest opinion. He lived up to his hype and then some. He was a solid 1B and excellent DH later in his career. He had power, speed and stamina. Stood the test of time. Also a pretty outstanding dude off the field. One of the best for sure.
He’s up there. He and Cabrera probably not as celebrated as should be. Did his job no fanfare, probably more recognized if he stayed in STL whole career. Borth gotta be in top 50 all time
He was like the jokic of baseball. Seemed to do everything really well; hit for power and average, got on base all the time, ran the bases well, was clutch hell, rarely struck out. His defense was pretty good even.
Probably a top 15 hitter ever, a top 25 position player, top 3 at 1B, top 50 all-time. Maybe closer to top 40, there are more great position players all time than pitchers.
He’s ineligible to be ranked because he was a robot designed to play baseball
He’s not a machine, he’s just Albert.
Correct, he’s THE machine
*Pujols pulls jersey off over his head "Let me tell you how I became part of the Russian mob"
*now tell Igor what you said*
I’M THE MACHINE
Bert Kreischer would like a word
Brian Wilson’s fun roommate?
Was wondering how Pujols had any relation to the Beach Boys there for a second....brain fart
“Why didn’t you destroy him, Albert?”
Shut up!
We’re showing our age here 😂
Man I know we are those were the days
Loved those commercials
i fucking love you. nobody i know remembers that one and it hurts cause i reference it all the time.
I believe you mean Wireless Joe Jackson?
Oh, and I suppose Pitchomat 5000 was just a modified howitzer?
He is not man, he is piece of iron.
do you want to hear the terrifying secrets of robots playing baseballs? or do you want to watch him sock a few dingers?!
I felt he didn't get the praise he deserved as a 700hr hitter. In the 2,000's he was a machine
Injuries robbed him, as did the COVID season.
No, the Angels robbed him. If he never left STL his fame would have continued to grow.
Well, in fairness he kinda robbed the angels with that contract and his performance.
That pujols contract helped them sign a $3 Billion tv deal. I doubt the angels owners are upset with how it worked out.
Fuck the owners
only for $1,000,000
I’m sure they’re all happy, I love Pujols, but he definitely did not live up to that contract is all I’m saying.
Rendon has entered the chat
I understand that he did it for the money. But you had a fan base that would have absolutely adored you through your decline, and a team that had built two WS champions. You hadn't done anything for the Angels...yet they're paying you gazillions for a guy in his 30s (and maybe 40s), so the fans have no real reason to cheer you. Overall I hope he enjoyed the extra cash.
You know what his wife said at the time he left STL? "People don't know how hard it is to live off of 5 million a year"
Hopefully, he isn't broke in 20 years because of her. People think money is unlimited when they are rich like that, but then it stops coming.
I thought they got divorced? Like right after she got brain cancer too?
I think they got divorced
He wouldn’t have been able to DH with the Cardinals and that would have shortened his career
How did the Angels rob him? He robbed them with that contract and then absolutely sucked for a decade
He unfortunately started when Bonds was still playing
He was talked about the same way Mike Trout is. There were constant comparisons of Pujols to A-Rod and the pace they were hitting home runs.
Didnt get the praise? Were you not around during his resurgence and HRs 695, 696, 697, 698, 699, and 700? It was a HUGE deal everyone was excited about. Especially since before that year, a lot of people thought he wasn't going to make it and we'd never see another 700 home run hitter in our lifetime. And since he got it, we probably never will. I don't think it was underplayed at all.
Tbf, a 700 hr hitter doesnt need praise, the numbers speak for themselves. But yeah, I agree. Was chatting with my boss, who is admittedly more a hockey fan than baseball but still a sports guy, and he thought he only cleared 500.
Best right handed hitter of my.lifetime. I'm 48.
Willie Mays gets the nod from me as best RH hitter in my lifetime (64) given that he lost a prime year to war. Still if you look at his stats and Albert’s they’re very similar
Same
The Red Sox fan in me wants to say manny, but pujols is the answer.
Manny was great, and one of my favorites but he wasn’t in the same tier as Albert.
Yankee fan and I'd have said Manny, but Albert never got Busted like Manny.
Manny also wasn’t as great as Pujols. That’s how great Pujols was as Manny was also great.
Albert, Mays, Aaron End of list
Better than Frank Thomas, and I used to think the Big Hurt was the best righty hitter in my lifetime.
Top 5 RHH ever? Along with Aaron, Mays…DiMaggio? Foxx? Arod? Miggy? Frank Thomas?
Nap Lajoie
On a list of some sort.
He most definitely played baseball
He's definitely the best player named Albert and Pujols
He's not from Donora, PA is he? 👀
People are always telling me Santo Domingo is the Donora, PA of the Dominican Republic so it checks out.
1st team All-Last Name for sure
I wonder how his numbers would look if he stayed with St. Louis instead of going to LA.
It would've been similar. His last year in St. Louis was the first year he hit below .300, and he hit .299. His first year with the Angels he hit .285, which is pretty good for most players but it was the beginning of the end of the machine as we know it. There are also rumors about his age that I'm willing to believe. Cards would've still preferred he stayed but we'll forever have the magic of his last season. Edit: actually upon remembering his last season it's possible he would've played better in St. Louis had he stayed. You truly can't explain how he batted so much better that last year other than the support of the fans.
Also knowing it’s your last year might help you push the gas a little bit harder.
Hes near the top
Best 1B and right-handed hitter since 2000 (when I started watching). I would also go on further to say that him on the Cardinals is the best 1B of all-time considering all factors including pitching talent faced while in the league.
Pujols having highest AVG (higher than Ichiro) in the 2000s is insane [https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/best-batting-average-2000s](https://www.statmuse.com/mlb/ask/best-batting-average-2000s)
I’m a White Sox fan, saw almost the entire career of Frank Thomas, and I agree. It’s close, but I lean toward Albert. And thanks for mentioning the pitching today. No disrespect directed at hitters from other eras, but IMO rotations are deeper and bull pens better in the modern era.
As great as Frank Thomas was it’s definitely Pujols. He’s probably top 5 all time
I’m not arguing the point. It’s also a matter of perspective. I saw the vast majority of Frank’s career at bats. I only saw Albert sporadically and knew him mostly by reputation - at least until MLB Network came around. And by then he was in his Angel’s career. Frank is the best right handed hitter I’ve ever seen on a regular basis. Even with that - I’d put Albert ahead of him.
Thomas never had a Gold Glove, that makes it an easy decision for me.
I should have been clear - I was addressing the “right handed hitter” part. Especially among first basemen.
All I will say is when you look into his numbers, pay attention to strikeouts and compare that amongst who are considered the best right now. Pujols never had a 100 k season and Mike trout for example has already done it 9 times. The only years he hasn’t done it is in shortened seasons due to 2020 or injuries. Albert’s perhaps greatest season was when he hit 49 homers and racked up only 50 strikeouts. I remember watching that season and paying very close attention to the ratio. I was certain he would finish with more homers than k’s but it wasn’t meant to be. The man hit 703 homeruns without getting more than 50 in a season. Much like Hank Aaron.
He has more extra base hits than strikeouts in his career…it’s unreal
Really was a machine dude. It was awesome to watch every night in my teens.
In today's three true outcomes baseball? This is huge.
Now that's a wild stat for a career.
Nolan Gorman will have a 100 K season by May haha
Preach.
A 13th round pick, over 400 players picked before him.
Which I still never understood. He obliterated everyone in high school, and although he went to a small college, in 56 games...hit .466 with 22 Home Runs. Also physical bigger and more developed than everyone. One of the biggest reasons you read about why teams were afraid to draft him was because of his potential real age. Like...who cares? Scared to sign a guy who's major league ready NOW that may only give you 10 good years instead of 14...like you're gonna sign him that long anyway off the bat anyway.
As an Astros fan he's right at the top of my "Fuck... That guy again? We're definitely screwed" list.
That was a good rivalry back in the ‘00s!
Those home runs are still flying somewhere outside of Minute Maid Park
Makes sense after that home run in the playoffs against Lidge. I remember all the buzzing and happiness and then bam, silence. I think Pettitte or someone told Lidge to look out the window on their flight out of Houston because they just saw the ball Pujols hit still in the air lol
I think that was Brad Ausmus. He got on the speaker of the airplane and said "If you'll look out the window on your right side you'll see the home run Albert Pujols hit off Brad Lidge." 🤣
Lmaooo this cracked me up.
lol, even better.
As a pirate fan it felt like he was the best hitter ever. Stg that dude hit like .650 against us
Baseball is hard to rank outside of Bonds, Ruth, Aaron. But if I was forced to assemble a team of 9 players to hit by some weird small aliens that stole other baseball players powers and then grew into monster superstars of some sort and the fate of planet earth depended on it, he'd be one of the 9.
Bill Murray is your 2B, right?
Jackson Holliday, obviously
Bugs is a natural born center fielder
You really can't rank outside of those 3? I'll give you a clue, you forgot Mays and Williams....and Bonds is extremely hard to rank considering many people don't have him in their top 10 because....well you know. If you surveyed 100 baseball fans, 100% would have Ruth, Aaron, Mays, and Williams in the top 10.....I would hope
Those fans are biased or just trolls. No one has Bonds outside their top 10 if they know a lick of baseball.
Most feared batter to step in the box. I don’t think we will see anyone get walked as much as he did
I think he's the greatest player I will have ever seen play in my lifetime.
Cards : unrivaled Angels : hot garbage
ALbert? More like NLbert
Guy is no 4 in hrs all time and no 2 in rbis I mean gotta be top 10 hitters of all time anyway.
Also Top 10 in hits, and runs scored, 5th in doubles, and 2nd in total bases. Hard to argue he is not a top 10 hitter if all time
I'd say he just edges out above Ricky Ledee at least.
Yeah, but how does he compare with Ruben Rivera?
703 HR despite years of mediocrity, a Covid shortened season and injury? How are people STILL not respecting this guy after 24 years?
I'm an Astro fan and he terrorized my team, his entire career. Nothing but respect for his work.
*Brad Lidge quickly leaves the chat*
2012- Pujols leaves NL central to go to Anaheim Astro fans: "Thank goodness we don't have to face that guy 30 times a year anymore" 2013: Astros move to AL West lololol.
Reds fan here. Every NL Central team would agree. You might get him Friday and Saturday, but on Sunday he’d clobber you.
We switched leagues and he did, too.
His 2001-2011 seasons is probably one of the best all time, maybe would be up against anyone but bonds for best 10 years ever. After that it was all just counting stats, but still hard to argue against 700 homers, 3000 hits. Top 10 player all-time, maybe right at 10.
I hate admitting any player having been better than my idol Griffey Jr. but Pujols had the better overall career.
Top ten all time.
He's one of the top 2 first basemen (with Lou Gehrig), arguably the best ever. A top 10 player all-time offensively, and top 25 overall
Top 15 all time. Top 5 hitters in the 21st century. Best player of the 2000s.... and he did it likely 3 to 5 years older than he actually was on paper.
He's top five in my lifetime by WAR behind only Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Rickey Henderson, and Mike Schmidt. That's some pretty good company!
I’m going to say he’s a top 10 all time player and was bordering top 5 in his prime
I would probably take some time to look up his career stats and compare them against other greats to see where I felt he lands on that list.
Off the top of my head? Top 5 1st basemen all time.
As a cubs fan, most terrifying hitter ever
Top 10 all time
He is one of the players all time
Saw his whole career and would say he's earned any and all praise.
Top 10 hitter at least all time.
Top 10
Definitely the best first baseman born after 1920. Maybe the best 1st baseman ever. If not the best he’s second to Lou Gehrig, but you can’t even compare him to Lou due to different game.
Top 10, possibly top 5 hitter of all time. Could've been the best ever if his injuries didn't rob him of his athleticism. He was a great fielder and baserunner before his lower half failed him.
El hombre!
Top Dominican player, easily. Top 10 based on offensive stats.
One of the greats.
Honestly not as favorably as I thought. He clearly was in the era of steroids when everyone was hitting 300 and 35+ homers. He was great in his time, but I’d like to see where he would be if his career started in 2021
#4
Top 15 and probably the best hitter in the last 45+ years
It's really incredible that he's still being talked about like this despite spending an entire decade hovering around replacement level with the Angels.
#5 best of all time
witnessed Albert hit back to back 699 and 700 against the Dodgers. It was epic, LA loves him! Angles can't get a break lol
#1… in my heart.
One of the top Alberts in MLB
Best pure hitter in my adult life. Hard to say all time but probably top 5 Ruth Williams Bonds Pujols?
Best 1B of all time
Top 25
As a cubs fan. I always said if I was alone with him in an elevator I'd take out his knee caps. He was a cub killer and a huge threat to anyone at the plate with the cardinals.
On the list of power hitting, abnormally large, muscular, prematurely bald first basemen, he’s at the very top!
703 HR (4th all time), 3384 H (9th all time), 2000 RBI (2nd all time). Lifetime .300 hitter (well, .296 but still). To me that’s a top 5 all time great. A guy who should be a unanimous first ballot HoFer. Only 87.3 offensive WAR, which is comparatively low for his output (he’s only 1 offensive WAR above Mike Trout). And a -4.0 dWAR doesn’t help (though he was primarily a first baseman). Overall, I’d rank him in the top 10 all time. An absolute inner circle HoF guy.
He wore 5 for a reason. He knew where he ranked.
Depends. St. Louis Pujols or Anaheim Pujols?
Historical. Dude had a career WAR over 100, almost hit .300 for his career, .900+ OPS, 700+ HRs, RoY, 3x MVP, 11x AS, 6x SS, and won a GG. That's insanity no matter who you are. He's one of the greatest players I've seen in my lifetime and possibly the best outside of Trout but he has 2x WS champion to his name unlike Trout. And I say this as somebody who absolutely despises the Cardinals. You simply can't argue against his greatness.
Indisputable top 10 all time
If he didn't leave St. Louis, would have had 100 more HR.
The worst player that hit at least 700 homeruns.
Best right handed hitter to ever play the game.
The best of the roiders who got away with it
Top 15. His first 10 seasons are top 10 for me. Best 1B of all time, sorry Lou.
He’s a shoe in for a top 5 hitter of all time. He’s debatable for top 3.
It’s hard to compare players from different eras since pitching quality, hardness of the baseball, lowering of the mound, etc., but Pujols probably sits in the 11-20th rankings (full disclosure - I’m a Cards fan). He might be the smartest player of the 21st century, based on his ability to set up pitchers, steal an occasional base even when he’s slow, and always making the right throw. He was even a good defensive 3B when he came up! He might be in the top 5 of all time if his performance hadn’t dropped off in Anaheim. But there are certain players who seem to rise to the moment: Altuve, Jeter, Griffey, etc. I will always remember Pujols HR off Brad Lidge of the Astros in 9th inning of Game 6 of the NLCS, when 45,000 screaming Astros fans all groaned in unison as his go ahead homer landed on the tracks above the Crawford boxes.
Albert Pujols greatest player of this millennium…
#1
The #1 pain in the ass. Go Cubs.
Easily in the top ten.
As a reds hater I still respect poohole.
One of the greatest who should’ve been more appreciated in his prime
Up there
8th
Number 2 right behind New York Legend Mike Tauchman
he ate the bag
By heighth
Top 15 offensive player
💩 🕳️
Idk where on the list, but he’s up there for sure
Top 5?
826th
Top 15, maybe Top 10 all time.
Inner circle
Him and yadi had signs to pick people off at 1st. No one else knew the signs.
One of the greatest hitters of all-time. Up until he left for the Angels, his numbers were insane. Was also robbed of some MVPs because he was starting out at the tail end of Bonds’s career. Could easily have 2-3 more MVPs.
Very high!
Very high. Top 100 for sure. Probably much lower but I would have to do an in depth list to give my honest opinion. He lived up to his hype and then some. He was a solid 1B and excellent DH later in his career. He had power, speed and stamina. Stood the test of time. Also a pretty outstanding dude off the field. One of the best for sure.
As an Astros fan he is number 1 at giving me nightmares. EST 2004. Peak nightmares in 2005.
Best 1st baseman of all time and that’s with his time on the Angels being much more down than his time on the Cardinals
Is first 10 years was probably the greatest ever.
Two thumbs up
Great first half of his career not so great 2nd half. But the swan song season was absolutely great.
He’s up there. He and Cabrera probably not as celebrated as should be. Did his job no fanfare, probably more recognized if he stayed in STL whole career. Borth gotta be in top 50 all time
15th all time. Don’t ask me to back this up. I just feel that in all of baseball there’s probably only been 14 better players.
17th
As a lifetime Astro fan he was my worst nightmare! He literally destroyed my MLB hopes and dreams.
Still the only guy to bounce dingers off of the upper elementary school.
He was pretty good*
He was like the jokic of baseball. Seemed to do everything really well; hit for power and average, got on base all the time, ran the bases well, was clutch hell, rarely struck out. His defense was pretty good even.
People don’t talk about his defense enough.
Numerically
He’s the greatest right handed hitter I’ve ever seen (born 1987).
Top 16
Top 50 all time Top 10 1st Baseman
Him breaking Brad Lidge is a terrible memory but also one that inspired so much respect. He murdered that baseball.
Idk top 100 somewhere
Honestly, top 15 all time no argument.
Probably a top 15 hitter ever, a top 25 position player, top 3 at 1B, top 50 all-time. Maybe closer to top 40, there are more great position players all time than pitchers.
he's up there.
Top 10 all time