Albert Pujols
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara (also known as Albert Pujols) is a star baseball player from the Dominican Republic. |position =First Baseman/Designated Hitter |birth_date =January 16, 1980 |birth_place =Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic |bats =right |throws = right |debutleague = MLB |debutdate = April 2 |debutyear = 2001 |debutteam = St. Louis Cardinals |finalleague = MLB |statyear = |finaldate = October 4 |finalyear = 2022 |statleague = MLB |stat1label = Batting average |stat1value = .296 |stat2label = Hits |stat2value = 3,384 |stat3label = Homeruns |stat3value = 703 |stat4label = Runs batted in |stat4label = 2,218 |teams=
- [[St. Louis Cardinals(2001-2011)
- Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim/ Los Angeles Angels(2012-2021)
- Los Angeles Dodgers(2021)
- St. Louis Cardinals(2022)
|awards =
- 11x All-Star(2001, 2003-2010, 2015, 2022)
- 2x World Series champion(2006, 2011)
- 3x Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award|NL MVP]](2005, 2008, 2009)
- NL Rookie of Year(2001)
- NLCS MVP(2004)
- 2x Gold Glove Award(2006, 2010)
- 6x Silver Slugger Award(2001, 2003, 2004, 2008-2010)
- 2x NL Hank Aaron Award(2003, 2009)
- NL Comeback Player of the Year(2022)
- Roberto Clemente Award(2008)
- [List of Major League Baseball batting champions|NL batting champion]](2003)
- 2x NL home run leader(2009, 2010)
- NL RBI leader(2010)
}}
Early life
Pujols was born on January 16, 1980 in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic. When he was 16, Pujols's family moved to Missouri. He learned English at Fort Osage High School and later studied to be an American citizen.
Baseball career
He went to Maple Woods Community College and posted a .461 on-base average (which means he got on base 461 times out of every 1,000 at-bats).
At age 19, Pujols was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals. He was a very low draft pick (402nd in the 13th round of the draft). He played his first season with one of the Cardinals' minor league teams, the Peoria Chiefs.
After one full season with the Chiefs, Pujols got onto the Cardinals' roster after a teammate got injured. Later two of the Cardinals' best players also got injured, and Pujols became a regular player. In his first season with the Cardinals, he had 37 RBIs and 130 home runs, and posted a .329 on-base average. He won the Rookie of the Year Award, earning every vote.
Awards
In 2002, Pujols was the runner-up for the Most Valuable Player Award, and the Cardinals reached the National League Championship Series.
In 2005, the Baseball Writers of America voted Pujols the National League's Most Valuable Player.
In 2006, the Cardinals won the World Series. Pujols was also named to the National League All-Star Team that year.
Since 2006, Pujols has won many awards, like the Players' Choice Most Outstanding Player Award, the Players' Choice Player of the Year Award, and the National League Home Run Award.
Albert Pujols Media
Albert Pujols stance in 2006
Pujols at the 2006 All-Star Game
Albert Pujols facing the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday April 26th, 2007 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. Photo taken with a Kodak z650.
Pujols is among the top 5 players all-time in home runs, RBIs, doubles, and total bases.
Pujols participating in the 2009 Home Run Derby
Pujols during the 2011 World Series parade. His historic Game 3 performance included three home runs.
Albert Pujols
Angels at Orioles 8/20/17
Pujols hits a pitch during a game against the Padres on September 22, 2022.
Pujols at Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally
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References
- "Pujols, Albert." Compton's by Britannica. 01 Aug. 2011: n.p. SIRS Discoverer. Web. 01 Apr. 2014.
- Petruso, A. "Albert Pujols." Newsmakers. Detroit: Gale, 2005. Biography in Context. Web. 1 Apr. 2014.