Pujols appreciation thread

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by Rabs

How many more years does he play?

two more.

Sadly, he will not be a .300 career hitter

[Zauron]

I still remember a decade ago trying to predict Pujols' final stats, and coming up with insane numbers like 3,800 hits and 750 homeruns.

That's what he was on pace for as a Cardinal in 2009, but he fell off a cliff. If you look back, he was averaging 180 hits a season, 100 runs, 35 doubles, 40 homeruns, 100 RBI's a season as a Cardinal. His first year as an Angel was adequate, but then nosedived.

I love Pujols and he's an all time great, but these Angel years are a disservice to him. He should retire from a performance standpoint, but no way does he pass on $60 million over the next two years because he's a below average player now.

That said, he might have a chance at 700 homeruns, although I highly doubt he reaches it. 49 homeruns from doesn't seem likely at all at this point.

Still, say 1900 runs, 3,200+ hits, 650+ doubles, 650+ homeruns, 2,100+ RBI's is an amazing career.

Just sad to see his BA dip below .300 soon, and his OBP dropped well below .400 now.

[speedyjg13]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

two more.

Sadly, he will not be a .300 career hitter

This is the saddest part.

[craines27mc]

Originally Posted by hatchd

First time, long time.

Decided to get in the Pujols game recently. I just think he's become so ridiculously underrated since going to Anaheim. Here's my first few pickups




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Love the retro! I have an Ichiro, need to get the Pujols to pair with it.

[ThoseBackPages]

he is now AT .300

not sure how going 0-for-this weekend will effect that though

[speedyjg13]

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

he is now AT .300

not sure how going 0-for-this weekend will effect that though

I say he retire already...I'd hate to see such a great career and he ends with a below .300 average

[Wade Mulroy]

Bumping this up to show up my newest addition. 2002 Heritage auto that I’ve had my eyes on since I was a wee lad and finally pulled the trigger


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[fitefanSHO]

The Pujols mania was so real.

Then reality hit hard like an insert.

I hope the same fate doesn’t await Trout.

[hatchd]

Really kicking myself for setting a $300 price cap when I was trying to pick up his PSA 10 TC RC a few months ago. So stupid.


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[epatmythes]

On this day last year, Albert made his first trip back to Busch Stadium since Game 7 of the 2011 World Series. The fans in attendance, and the city as a whole, appreciated the heck out of him that day. One year later... no baseball yet to watch... let's bump this up and get a little more AP5 appreciation rolling!

[Wade Mulroy]

Originally Posted by epatmythes

On this day last year, Albert made his first trip back to Busch Stadium since Game 7 of the 2011 World Series. The fans in attendance, and the city as a whole, appreciated the heck out of him that day. One year later... no baseball yet to watch... let's bump this up and get a little more AP5 appreciation rolling!

Sad... My fiance (girlfriend at the time) surprised me with tickets to go to the Saturday afternoon (game 2) game in the series as a gift for completing my MBA. That was the game he hit the home run and it was probably the best sports moments I've ever witnessed in-person. Growing up close to St. Louis, Albert has been one of my favorites since I was 11 years old. I'm 30 now and he's still my hero.

[BirdsFan55]

Originally Posted by Wade Mulroy

Sad... My fiance (girlfriend at the time) surprised me with tickets to go to the Saturday afternoon (game 2) game in the series as a gift for completing my MBA. That was the game he hit the home run and it was probably the best sports moments I've ever witnessed in-person. Growing up close to St. Louis, Albert has been one of my favorites since I was 11 years old. I'm 30 now and he's still my hero.

That's awesome! I went to the Friday game and that whole weekend was definitely special. Sad his chance at 700 is all but out the window now.

[ThoseBackPages]

Originally Posted by Wade Mulroy

Sad... My fiance (girlfriend at the time) surprised me with tickets to go to the Saturday afternoon (game 2) game in the series as a gift for completing my MBA. That was the game he hit the home run and it was probably the best sports moments I've ever witnessed in-person. Growing up close to St. Louis, Albert has been one of my favorites since I was 11 years old. I'm 30 now and he's still my hero.

that is AWESOME! thank you for sharing

[Wade Mulroy]

Originally Posted by BirdsFan55

That's awesome! I went to the Friday game and that whole weekend was definitely special. Sad his chance at 700 is all but out the window now.

Originally Posted by ThoseBackPages

that is AWESOME! thank you for sharing

Thanks!

Interesting addendum to this story. My fiance likes baseball, but doesn't understand all the nuance that comes into the game, particularly in situations when a high-profile player returns to a city as a part of an opposing team.

Anyway, we were at her parents house on the Friday night during the first game of the Angels/Cardinals series. We were preparing dinner and had the game on in the background. As soon as Albert came up for his first at-bat, I stopped what I was doing and went into the living room to experience the moment when he stepped up to the plate.

She could tell by watching me that it was a special moment and immediately felt bad because she didn't realize how much different being at the FIRST game of his return would be than going to the second. She simply thought it was all the same, and it was more convenient for us to go to the ballpark on a Saturday, as opposed to a Friday. I reassured her to certainly not feel guilty for getting game 2 tickets instead of game 1, because it would be just as special. Furthermore, the gesture in itself was amazing and any tickets that weekend were expensive and hard to come by.

Once we got to the game the next day, I could tell she was still kicking herself for not getting tickets to the game the night before. I told her that even though that was his first game back in St. Louis, nothing overly memorable happened during the game, so maybe we'll get to experience an even better moment.

As Albert was coming up to bat in the 7th, the Cardinals were winning by 3 or 4 runs (I think), and no one was on-base. We were all standing for Albert's walk up to the plate and I leaned over and said something like, "This would be a perfect time for him to hit a bomb." Sure enough, he parked one into the visitor's bullpen and the place went crazy. It's hard to express just how loud it was in the stadium and it was probably on-par with how excited I was during the improbable World Series run in 2011.

Of course, after that moment I made sure to try to quantify just how much of a cool moment that was as a fan of Albert since my childhood. That moment changed her perspective entirely and couldn't have been more proud about getting us tickets and seeing how special of a moment that was for me to experience live. Hopefully when we have kids and grandkids that are interested in baseball and hear the lore of the great Albert Pujols, it will be a cool story to share that we got to see his last ever home run in St. Louis.

[LVDan]

He was the greatest combination of pure hitter and feared slugger I’ve ever seen. He and Ichiro lifted the entire industry in a way that Ron and Juan would 17 years later. I can only hope they approach his greatness.


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[hatchd]

My collection of Pujols RCs might have reached its pinnacle a couple weeks ago with this mailday. It took "accidentally" selling a pretty nice Trout to make it happen, but I'm kind of glad it did.



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[LVDan]

That, to me is the most underrated one^^
Amazing pickup!


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[speedyjg13]

These cards are just gorgeous, just like in 1993!

[hatchd]

Originally Posted by speedyjg13

These cards are just gorgeous, just like in 1993!

These are awesome. I'm going to end to buying these. I know very little about this product, what versions are there? Regular, black and I thought I saw a gold maybe?


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[speedyjg13]

Originally Posted by hatchd

These are awesome. I'm going to end to buying these. I know very little about this product, what versions are there? Regular, black and I thought I saw a gold maybe?


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It's from the 2020 Topps Finest Flashbacks.

The versions are the following:

Base refractor (unofficial print run of 50)
Gold refractor/50
Black /25
Red /5
Super /1

[speedyjg13]

#658!!!! Grand slam

Getting closer to the next HR and RBI milestone

[epatmythes]

Grand slam! Climbing that stat ladder!

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[speedyjg13]

#658!!!! Grand slam

Getting closer to the next HR and RBI milestone

[KeithandDJ]

Back after a long hiatus! Glad to see Albert is hitting some bombs this shortened season. Nice double tonight. Been picking up some of those 3,000 hit clicker statues that were Angels game giveaways. His prices are rising now. Sounds like 1 more year in Los Angeles then off to St. Louis to close out career for a year or two... would work just fine if the NL keeps the DH, which it sounds like is a done deal.

[Chrisyork33]

Originally Posted by KeithandDJ

Back after a long hiatus! Glad to see Albert is hitting some bombs this shortened season. Nice double tonight. Been picking up some of those 3,000 hit clicker statues that were Angels game giveaways. His prices are rising now. Sounds like 1 more year in Los Angeles then off to St. Louis to close out career for a year or two... would work just fine if the NL keeps the DH, which it sounds like is a done deal.

I never thought about a St Louis homecoming ......that could help hobby love