Albert Pujols facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Albert Pujols
Pujols with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008
First baseman / Designated hitter
Born: (1980-01-16) January 16, 1980 (age 45) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
April 2, 2001, for the St. Louis Cardinals
Last appearance
October 4, 2022, for the St. Louis Cardinals
MLB statistics
Batting average	.296
Hits	3,384
Home runs	703
Runs batted in	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)
Career highlights and awards
11× All-Star (2001, 2003–2010, 2015, 2022) 2× World Series champion (2006, 2011) 3× NL MVP (2005, 2008, 2009) NL Rookie of the Year (2001) NLCS MVP (2004) 2× Gold Glove Award (2006, 2010) 6× Silver Slugger Award (2001, 2003, 2004, 2008–2010) 2× NL Hank Aaron Award (2003, 2009) NL Comeback Player of the Year (2022) Roberto Clemente Award (2008) NL batting champion (2003) 2× NL home run leader (2009, 2010) NL RBI leader (2010)

José Albert Pujols Alcántara (born January 16, 1980) is a famous Dominican-American professional baseball player. He played for 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He was a first baseman and designated hitter for the St. Louis Cardinals, Los Angeles Angels, and Los Angeles Dodgers.

People often called him "the Machine" because he was so good at hitting. Many consider Pujols to be one of the best baseball players ever. He was known for hitting the ball well, being patient at the plate, and hitting with great power.

Pujols won the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award three times in the National League (NL). He was also an 11-time All-Star. He won the Silver Slugger Award six times. He led the NL in home runs twice and in batting average once. In 2018, Pujols got his 3,000th career hit. This made him one of only 32 MLB players to reach this huge milestone.

In his final season in 2022, Pujols returned to the Cardinals. He became the fourth player in history to hit 700 career home runs. He also moved into second place all-time for career RBIs and total bases. He won two Gold Glove awards for his great defense at first base.

Early Life and College Baseball

Pujols grew up in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. His grandmother and many aunts and uncles raised him. He was an only child. His father, Bienvenido Pujols, was a pitcher in softball. When he was young, Pujols practiced baseball using limes as balls and a milk carton as a glove.

In 1996, Pujols, his father, and his grandmother moved to the United States. They first lived in New York City, then moved to Independence, Missouri. Pujols played baseball at Fort Osage High School. He was named an All-State athlete twice. In his senior year, he was intentionally walked 55 times. Still, he hit eight home runs in only 33 at bats. One of his home runs flew 450 feet!

After high school, Pujols got a baseball scholarship to Maple Woods Community College. In his first college game, he hit a grand slam. He also made an unassisted triple play. He played shortstop and had a .461 batting average with 22 home runs. After just one season, he decided to enter the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft.

Starting Professional Baseball

Draft and Minor Leagues

Not many teams were very interested in Pujols at first. They weren't sure about his age, what position he would play, or his body type. The St. Louis Cardinals picked him in the 13th round of the 1999 MLB Draft. He was the 402nd player chosen overall. Pujols first turned down a $10,000 bonus. He played in a summer league instead. When the Cardinals offered him $60,000, he signed.

Pujols started his minor league career in 2000. He played third base for the Peoria Chiefs. He hit .324 with 17 home runs and 84 RBIs in 109 games. He was named the league's Most Valuable Player. He also played for two other minor league teams that year. He finished the 2000 season with the Memphis Redbirds. He helped them win their first league title and was named the postseason MVP.

St. Louis Cardinals (2001–2011)

Early Success (2001–2003)

In 2001, Pujols impressed the Cardinals' manager, Tony La Russa, during spring training. He made the team's Opening Day roster. He played many positions that season, including third base, right field, left field, and first base.

On April 2, 2001, Pujols became the first MLB player born in the 1980s. He got his first hit in that game. Four days later, he hit his first home run. By midseason, he was the first Cardinals rookie since 1955 to be chosen for the All-Star Game.

Pujols finished his rookie season with a .329 batting average, 37 home runs, and 130 RBIs. He was named the National League (NL) Rookie of the Year unanimously. He was also fourth in the NL MVP voting. The Cardinals made the playoffs, but were eliminated in the Division Series.

In 2002, Pujols mostly played left field. He continued to hit well, batting .314 with 34 home runs and 127 RBIs. He became the first player in MLB history to hit over .300 with at least 30 home runs, 100 runs, and 100 RBIs in his first two seasons. He finished second in MVP voting again. The Cardinals reached the playoffs and won their division. They swept the Diamondbacks in the NL Division Series but lost to the Giants in the NL Championship Series.

In 2003, Pujols was chosen for the All-Star Game again. He had a 30-game hitting streak. On July 20, he hit his 100th career home run. He was one of only four major leaguers to reach 100 home runs in their third season. Pujols finished the year with 43 home runs and 124 RBIs. He won the NL batting title with a .359 average. He also led the league in runs, hits, and doubles. He won his second Silver Slugger Award. Even with his amazing play, he finished second in MVP voting for the third straight year.

New Contract and First World Series (2004–2008)

In 2004, Pujols signed a big seven-year contract extension. He moved to first base that year. He hit his 500th RBI, joining baseball legends like Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams as players with 500 RBIs in their first four seasons. Pujols finished the season with a .331 average, 46 home runs, and 123 RBIs. He led the league with 133 runs scored. He won the Silver Slugger Award at first base.

The Cardinals won their division and made the playoffs. Pujols was named the NLCS MVP after hitting .500 with four home runs and nine RBIs. The Cardinals reached the World Series for the first time since 1987, but they were swept by the Boston Red Sox.

In 2005, Pujols continued his success. He got his 100th RBI for the fifth straight season. He hit his 200th career home run, becoming one of the youngest players to reach that milestone. He batted .330 with 41 home runs and 117 RBIs. For the first time, he won the NL MVP award.

The Cardinals made the playoffs again. In Game 5 of the NLCS against the Astros, Pujols hit a famous game-winning three-run home run in the ninth inning. This home run is still remembered as one of the most exciting playoff home runs. However, the Cardinals were eliminated in Game 6.

Pujols in 2006

In April 2006, Pujols hit home runs in four straight times at bat over two games. He also got his 1,000th career hit. He was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his career with a strained muscle. Pujols finished the season with a .331 average, 49 home runs, and 137 RBIs. He won the NL Gold Glove Award for first base.

The Cardinals won their division again. In the World Series against the Detroit Tigers, Pujols hit a home run in Game 1. In Game 5, he made a great defensive play. The Cardinals won the series, giving Pujols his first World Series ring.

Pujols is among the top 5 players all-time in home runs, RBIs, doubles, and total bases.

In 2007, Pujols hit his 255th home run, tying a Cardinals record. He finished the season with a .327 average, 32 home runs, and 103 RBIs. This ended his streak of six seasons with at least 30 home runs, a .300 average, 100 runs, and 100 RBIs.

Pujols started 2008 by reaching base in 42 straight games. On July 4, he hit his 300th career home run. On September 11, he got his 100th RBI of the season. This made him one of only three players to start their career with eight seasons of at least 100 RBIs. In 2008, Pujols batted .357 with 37 home runs and 116 RBIs. He won his second NL MVP Award and his fourth Silver Slugger Award. He also won the Roberto Clemente Award for his work off the field.

Later Cardinals Career and Second World Series (2009–2011)

Pujols participating in the 2009 Home Run Derby

On April 25, 2009, Pujols got his 1,000th career RBI with a grand slam. On July 3, he hit his 10th career grand slam, breaking a Cardinals record. This was also his 350th career home run. He received the most votes in NL history for the All-Star Game that year.

Pujols hit five grand slams in 2009, tying an NL record. He finished the season batting .327 with 47 home runs (leading the league) and 135 RBIs. He was unanimously named the NL MVP for the third time. He won his fifth Silver Slugger Award. The Cardinals made the playoffs but were swept in three games.

In 2010, Pujols continued to lead the league. On June 29, he hit two home runs in a game for the 37th time, tying a Cardinals record. On August 26, he hit his 400th career home run. He was one of the youngest players to reach this milestone. He also reached 100 RBIs for the 10th year in a row. Only one other player has had a longer streak to start a career. Pujols finished the season batting .312. He led the league in runs (115), home runs (42), and RBIs (118). He won his second Gold Glove Award and his sixth Silver Slugger Award.

Pujols struggled at the start of the 2011 season. However, he soon got back on track. On June 4 and 5, he hit back-to-back walk-off home runs in extra innings. On July 30, he got his 2,000th career hit. The Cardinals made a great comeback to win the Wild Card spot for the playoffs. Pujols finished the season batting .299 with 37 home runs and 99 RBIs.

Pujols during the 2011 World Series parade. His historic Game 3 performance included three home runs.

In the 2011 playoffs, Pujols helped the Cardinals win the Division Series and Championship Series. On October 22, in Game 3 of the World Series, Pujols had an amazing game. He had five hits, three home runs, four runs scored, and six RBIs. He joined Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson as the only players to hit three home runs in a World Series game. He also set a series record with 14 total bases. The Cardinals went on to win the World Series in seven games, giving Pujols his second championship. After the season, he became a free agent.

Los Angeles Angels (2012–2021)

In December 2011, Pujols signed a 10-year contract with the Los Angeles Angels. It was worth about $254 million.

Angels Years (2012–2021)

Pujols had a slow start in 2012, but his hitting improved as the season went on. He finished the year batting .285 with 30 home runs and 105 RBIs.

In 2013, Pujols had a tough season due to a foot injury. He played in only 99 games. He batted .258 with 17 home runs and 64 RBIs.

On April 22, 2014, Pujols hit his 499th and 500th career home runs in the same game. He became the 26th player to reach 500 home runs and the third-youngest. On August 10, he hit his first walk-off home run as an Angel in a very long 19-inning game. On September 6, he got his 2,500th career hit. He became one of only five players in MLB history with 2,500 hits and 500 home runs while having a high career batting average. For the 2014 season, he batted .272.

Pujols in 2012

In 2015, Pujols had a strong season. He was named AL Player of the Month in June. He was also chosen for the All-Star Game, his 10th time being selected. On September 22, he hit his 556th home run. On October 4, he hit his 40th home run of the season. He finished the year batting .244 with 40 home runs.

On April 30, 2016, Pujols reached 10,000 career plate appearances. On May 2, he reached 5,000 career total bases. On August 25, he reached 100 RBIs for the 13th time in his career. On August 29, he tied Frank Robinson for ninth place on the all-time home run list with 586. He also became the seventh player with 1,200 career extra base hits. On September 16, he got his 600th career double. Pujols batted .268 for the 2016 season.

Pujols in 2017

On June 3, 2017, Pujols hit his 600th career home run. It was a grand slam! He was the fourth-youngest player to reach 600 home runs and the first to hit a grand slam for his 600th. For the 2017 season, he batted .241 with 23 home runs.

On May 4, 2018, Pujols got his 3,000th major league hit. This made him one of the few players in baseball history to reach both 3,000 hits and 600 home runs. On July 12, he hit his 630th career home run, tying Ken Griffey Jr. for sixth all-time. He had surgery on his left knee and right elbow later that year. In 2018, he batted .245 with 19 home runs and 64 RBIs.

On May 9, 2019, Pujols became the fourth player in MLB history to record 2,000 RBIs. He hit a solo home run to reach this milestone. On June 13, he hit his 200th home run as an Angel. This made him one of only six players to hit 200 home runs with two different teams. In 2019, he batted .244.

In 2020, Pujols was the oldest player in MLB at 40 years old. On August 24, he passed Alex Rodriguez to reach second place on the all-time RBIs list. On September 18, he hit his 661st career home run, passing Willie Mays for fifth place all-time. In 2020, he batted .224 with 6 home runs and 25 RBIs.

Pujols started the 2021 season with the Angels. On May 6, the Angels decided to release him. He became a free agent on May 13.

Angels Time Summary

In his nine-plus seasons with the Angels, Pujols hit .256 with 222 home runs and 783 RBIs. The team won their division once in 2014 but did not win any playoff games during his time there.

Los Angeles Dodgers (2021)

On May 17, 2021, Pujols signed a one-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He chose the number 55, which he said was a "double grace" from the Bible.

On May 20, Pujols hit his first home run as a Dodger. He played in 85 games for the Dodgers, hitting .254 with 12 home runs and 38 RBIs. He was the oldest player in the league for the second year in a row. He also played in the playoffs for the Dodgers.

Return to St. Louis (2022)

Pujols hits a pitch during a game against the Padres on September 22, 2022.

On March 28, 2022, Pujols signed a one-year contract to return to the St. Louis Cardinals. He announced that 2022 would be his final season playing baseball. He was the oldest player in MLB for the third season in a row.

On May 15, Pujols even made his pitching debut! He became the 10th MLB player to play 3,000 games on June 4. On June 7, he got his 3,320th career hit, passing Paul Molitor for tenth all-time in hits.

Pujols was chosen for the 2022 Major League Baseball All-Star Game by the MLB Commissioner to honor his amazing career. He also took part in the 2022 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby.

On August 20, he passed Stan Musial for second place all-time in total bases, behind only Hank Aaron. On August 29, Pujols hit a home run off Ross Detwiler. This made Detwiler the 450th different pitcher Pujols had hit a home run against, breaking a record held by Barry Bonds.

On September 10 and 11, Pujols hit his 696th and 697th home runs. On September 14, he became the second player in MLB history to officially get 2,200 RBIs. On September 23, Pujols made history by becoming the fourth player to hit 700 career home runs! He hit his 699th and 700th home runs in back-to-back times at bat in a game at Dodger Stadium. On October 3, he hit his 703rd home run, passing Babe Ruth for second place on the all-time RBI list.

Pujols finished his career first in grounding into double plays (426). He was also 3rd in sacrifice flies (123), 5th in games played (3,080) and doubles (686), and 6th in at bats (11,421).

The Cardinals won their division, and Pujols played in his 10th and final postseason. He played his last game on October 8, 2022, when the Cardinals were eliminated from the playoffs.

After Playing Baseball

On February 23, 2023, the Angels hired Pujols as a special assistant. He also works as an analyst for MLB Network.

Playing Style

People often praised Pujols's batting swing for being very consistent. His former teammate, Lance Berkman, said, "It's the same swing every time." Pujols used a slightly lighter bat against right-handed pitchers and a heavier one against left-handers.

Achievements and Awards

Pujols is second in MLB history in runs batted in and total bases, only behind Hank Aaron. He and Aaron are the only two players to have 3,000 hits, 700 home runs, and 2,200 RBIs. Only two other players, Stan Musial and Willie Mays, have more than 6,000 total bases. Pujols hit home runs off a record 458 different pitchers. He is fourth in career home runs and fifth in doubles.

Pujols is the all-time leader in hitting into double plays. Even though he hit for power, he never struck out 100 times in a season. This is rare for sluggers today.

Many players and coaches have praised Pujols. In 2008, he was named the most feared hitter in baseball by MLB managers. His former manager, Tony La Russa, called him "the best player I've ever managed."

Awards and Honors

Notes: Through 2017 season. Per Baseball-Reference.com.

Other Activities

Charity Work

Pujols at Glenn Beck's "Restoring Honor" rally

In 2005, Albert and his wife, Deidre, started the Pujols Family Foundation. This non-profit group helps people in several ways. It raises awareness about Down syndrome and supports families who have a loved one with the condition. It also helps poor people in the Dominican Republic and supports those with disabilities or serious illnesses. The foundation hosts events for people with Down syndrome. In 2009, the Albert Pujols Wellness Center for Adults with Down Syndrome opened in Missouri.

Pujols has taken many trips to the Dominican Republic. He brings supplies and a team of doctors and dentists to help people who need medical care. The foundation also holds a yearly golf tournament to raise money for these trips.

Personal Life

Pujols married Deidre Pujols in 2000. They have five children. Pujols is a very religious Christian. He became a Christian in 1998.

Pujols is a supporter of people with Down syndrome. His daughter, Isabella, was born with the condition. In 2007, Pujols became a U.S. citizen. He got a perfect score on his citizenship test.

Pujols is good friends with former teammate Plácido Polanco. Polanco calls Pujols his "closest friend in baseball." Pujols is also the godfather to Polanco's son.

See Also

In Spanish: Albert Pujols para niños