The couple was blessed with five children, three of whom are daughters, and two of them are sons. "[103] On September 11, in a 32 loss to the Cubs, Pujols hit his 100th RBI of the season against Rich Harden, making him the third player in major league history to start his career with eight seasons of at least 100 RBI (along with Al Simmons and Ted Williams). [174], On April 22, 2014, Pujols hit his 499th and 500th home runs off the Washington Nationals' Taylor Jordan at Nationals Park, where he had hit his 400th career home run in the 2010 season. The eldest of these children, Isabella, was born to Deidre during one of her prior relationships. Per Baseball-Reference.com. While there, Albert was twice awarded all-state honors in baseball. [7][9][10], Pujols played baseball at Fort Osage High School in Independence and was named an All-State athlete twice. After their first meeting and subsequent dating, it was revealed that Deidre was a single mother of a girl having Down's Syndrome. Albert Pujols [Born on January 16, 1980] is a retired Dominican-American professional baseball first baseman.Albert Pujols's . [192], On June 3, 2017, Pujols became the ninth player in Major League history to hit at least 600 home runs, when he hit a grand slam off of Ervin Santana of the Minnesota Twins. [105] He grounded into a National League-leading 27 double plays. [44] It was the first of eight straight seasons that Pujols would reach the All-Star Game. As do all the participants in Albert's All-Star Basketball game, one of the foundation's marquee annual events. An anonymous donor commissioned sculptor Harry Weber to create the statue, which belongs to the Pujols Family Foundation. Pujols said in his statement that he and Deidre "remain committed" to raising their five children "in a loving and safe environment." Albert Pujols (r.) kisses his wife Deidre after . [12] Playing shortstop, he batted .461 with 22 home runs as a freshman before deciding to enter the Major League Baseball (MLB) draft. [25] On April 9, in his first career home game, Pujols hit a two-run home run in his first at bat against Denny Neagle of Colorado. [94] He batted .318 with one home run and one RBI in the series as the Cardinals defeated the Mets in seven games. Where is the birthplace of Albert Pujols? And, man . [43] On October 22, in Game 3 of the World Series, Pujols had five hits, three home runs, four runs scored and six RBI in a 167 victory over the Rangers. [24] Four days later, he had three hits and three RBI including his first home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks' Armando Reynoso in a 129 win. [216], In 2020, Pujols batted .224/.270/.395 with 6 home runs and 25 RBIs in 152 at bats. The top 12 players, boys and girls ages 15 and older, are selected. [91], Led by Pujols and Carpenter, the Cardinals won the NL Central and reached the playoffs for the third year in a row. [130], In 159 games, Pujols batted .312 (sixth) with 183 hits (fifth) and 39 doubles (tied for eighth with Marlon Byrd); he led the league in runs scored (115), home runs (42) and RBI (118). [204], On May 9, 2019, Pujols became the fourth player in major league history to record 2,000 RBIs, hitting a solo home run against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Albert earned $14.5 million during his time with the Cardinals. The win preserved the Cardinals' 1.5-game division lead; La Russa later called it "the most huge of the huge ones he's hit. Between May 28 and June 22, he batted .356 with 15 homers, 30 RBI, and a 1.326 OPS. The adorable babies' names are Ezra, Isabella, Albert Jr., Esther and Sofia Pujol. He earned a baseball scholarship and attended Maple Woods pimps trafficking in kids. [235] He said, "There were a lot of teams interested. He joined Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson as the only players in baseball history to hit three home runs in a World Series game, set a series record with 14 total bases, became the first player in series history to have hits in four consecutive innings, and tied records for most hits and most RBI in a World Series game. [7][12] Tampa Bay Rays scout Fernando Arango recommended that his team sign Pujols, and quit his job when Tampa Bay failed to do so. [242] He was also selected to participate in the Home Run Derby, where he advanced to the second round and fell one home run short of eventual winner Juan Soto.[243]. [203] He had the 5th-highest salary in the AL, at $27 million. [17] Pujols also played 21 games with the Potomac Cannons in the high-A Carolina League that year, batting .284 with 23 hits, eight doubles, one triple, two home runs and 10 RBI. [315] Among other activities, the foundation hosts events for people with Down syndrome. He's a great hitter."[163] On August 14, Pujols had four RBIs, including a game-winning three-run home run against Ubaldo Jimnez in a 96 victory over the Cleveland Indians. [90] He won his first of four consecutive Fielding Bible Awards for the first base position. [45] From July 12 to August 16, Pujols had a 30-game hitting streak, tied for the second-longest in Cardinals' history with Musial and behind only Rogers Hornsby's 33-game streak. [223], In an August 7, 2018, article entitled "How the shift has ruined Albert Pujols," ESPN sportswriter Alden Gonzalez wrote: .mw-parser-output .templatequote{overflow:hidden;margin:1em 0;padding:0 40px}.mw-parser-output .templatequote .templatequotecite{line-height:1.5em;text-align:left;padding-left:1.6em;margin-top:0}, "The recent proliferation of defensive shifts has made it exceedingly difficult for power hitters to turn batted balls into hits, prompting an infatuation with launch angles and breeding a widespread acceptance of strikeouts. [196], On May 4, 2018, Pujols recorded his 3,000th major league hit, against Mike Leake of the Seattle Mariners. "I realize this is not the most opportune time with Opening Day approaching and other family events that have recently . In 2000, the couple had their son, Albert Jr. in 2002, Sophia in 2005, son Ezra in 2010, and Esther Grace in 2012. Pujols also posted career worsts in hits, runs scored, doubles, home runs, RBI, walks, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, and OPS. In return, Pujols dropped the suit. Profession: professional baseball player: League : Major League Baseball (MLB) bats and pitches: Right: Equipment: St. Louis Cardinals (2001-2011) Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels (2012-2021) Los Angeles . Bienvenido Pujols: Kids: Albert Jr., Sophia, Ezra, Esther, and Isabella . [98] He scored 99 runs, ending his streak of seasons with at least 30 home runs, a .300 average, 100 runs scored and 100 RBI, at six. Pujols was named the NLCS MVP after batting .500 with four home runs and nine RBI. He and Aaron are the only two players to amass 3,000 hits, 700 home runs, and 2,200 RBIs. [21] Cardinals executive John Vuch, backed this up, calling the link between Pujols and Bonilla an "old wives' tale" and stating that the competition for the last roster spot was actually between Bonilla and John Mabry. [177], For the 2014 season, Pujols batted .272 and grounded into an American League-leading 28 double plays. Polanco has called Pujols his "closest friend in baseball," and Pujols is the godfather to Polanco's son, Ishmael. [200], In 2018, he batted .245/.289/.411 with 19 home runs and 64 RBIs (matching the lowest season total of his career). [149][150][151][152] He had one hit and no RBI the other six games of the series but became a World Series champion for the second time as the Cardinals defeated the Rangers in seven games. [260] "He has the ability to repeat his swing over and over and over, which leads to him being very consistent," Cardinals' video coordinator Chad Blair said. [43] In Game 2 of the NLCS against the Brewers, he had four hits, three runs scored, one home run and five RBI, in a 123 victory. [11][34], After playing several positions in 2001, Pujols spent most of 2002 in left field. Carpenter noted after the game that Pujols' slump earlier in the year was over: "He continues to do great things, there's no doubt about it," he said. Few have been victimized more than Pujols, the aging slugger who still makes frequent contact but no longer runs well [T]he modern game is especially unforgiving to older hitters, and it has intensified the decline of arguably the greatest first baseman in baseball history. His wife's name is Deidre. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. [121][122][123] In the NLDS against the Dodgers, Pujols batted .300 with one RBI as the Cardinals were swept in three games. On 16-1-1980 Albert Pujols (nickname: Prince Albert) was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Related: "Focus on what I need to" - Albert Pujols makes spring . In an age when seasons of 150+ strikeouts were the norm for sluggers, he never struck out at least 100 times in a season. [58], Pujols' highlights later in the season included a July game in which he hit five RBI and three home runs in a thrilling win over the rival Chicago Cubs, and another in which he broke up a no-hitter by Giants pitcher Dustin Hermanson. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch noted eight such instances just from Saturday's game. [148] He batted .478 with two home runs and nine RBI in the series as the Cardinals defeated the Brewers in six games. In 2005 he hit .330 with 41 home runs and 117 RBIs and was named NL MVP. With Trout also hitting 40 home runs, the 2015 Angels became just the 31st team in MLB history with multiple players to hit 40+ home runs in a season. [113] On July 3, he hit his 10th career grand slam against Weathers in a 74 victory over the Reds, breaking Musial's record for most grand slams by a Cardinal. . Consider the decline of Albert Pujols (age: 34; OPS: .810). After the team won the World Series, he became one of the most sought-after free agents in baseball history and signed a 10-year $254 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. [188] While playing Cincinnati on August 29, Pujols hit his 26th home run and 103rd RBI of the season. [265] Given his career achievements, Pujols is widely expected to be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2028, the first year in which he becomes eligible. [214] On August 24, Pujols passed Rodriguez to reach second on the all-time RBIs list with a single against the Astros. In 2008, he was named the most feared hitter in baseball in a poll of all 30 MLB managers. Though it was a fast transaction from dating to committing to marriage, they are a very happy couple with a big family of five children. Aided by the mid-season acquisition of Matt Holliday (who replaced Ryan Ludwick as the cleanup hitter) and the emergence of Adam Wainwright (who led the NL in wins), the Cardinals returned to the playoffs after a two-year hiatus. [181] Selected to the All Star Game, Pujols was announced as a reserve for the American League. . Albert Pujols is an admired professional level baseball player who has played Major League Baseball for the 'Los Angeles Angels' and 'St. Louis Cardinals'. They had four children after their marriage: Albert Jr., Sophia, Ezra, and their youngest, Esther Grace. [322][323], Pujols married Deidre Pujols on January 1, 2000. "[86], Pujols finished the season with a .331 average (third to Freddy Sanchez's .344 and Cabrera's .339), 177 hits, 33 doubles, 49 home runs (second to Ryan Howard's 58), 137 RBI (second to Howard, 149) and 119 runs scored (tied with Matt Holliday, Hanley Ramrez, and Alfonso Soriano for fifth). [107][108] He was named The Sporting News Player of the Year for the second time in his career. Growing up, Pujols practiced baseball using limes for balls and a milk carton for a glove. Pujols, "who will go down as one of the greatest right-handed hitters of all time," became the first player to produce four hits and two homers in a single game at the age of 42 or older in August 2022. Birthplace Santo Domingo,, Dominican Republic. [26] Through 2015, he was one of three players to hit 20 or more home runs in their rookie year before July, along with Wally Berger (1930) and Joc Pederson (2015). [155][156][157], Pujols did not perform very well to begin the 2012 season, batting .217 with no home runs and four RBI in the month of April. put the uniform back on and helping the young kids in the . [213], At the beginning of the 2020 season, Pujols (at the age of 40) was the oldest player in the major leagues. [326] Pujols is a devout evangelical Christian. That's all about Albert Pujols's height, age, weight and biography. [251] On October 2, he hit No. [72], By 2005, many baseball fans thought that Pujols was the best Cardinal since Musial. [333] Pujols is also friends with Robinson Can, who selected Mark Trumbo for the 2012 Home Run Derby after being asked to by Pujols.[334].