RIP Game 163:<\/strong>MLB’s new postseason system ends storied one-game tiebreaker. A ‘bummer’ for baseball?<\/p>\nPujols, who didn’t even have a job when spring training started, came awfully close to spoiling this Hollywood story. He had three other job offers, and at least one that was going to pay him significantly more than the $2 million the Cardinals eventually offered, with others promising more playing time.<\/p>\n
But once the Cardinals called, the job search was over.<\/p>\n
He packed his bags and was in the Cardinals’ camp by the next morning, preparing for his farewell tour.<\/p>\n
\u201cI took obviously a lot less money and less promises,\u201d Pujols said, \u201cbut this is where I want to be. This is where I wanted to finish my last year, and thank God he allowed me to have this door open to come here to finish my career.”<\/p>\n\n
While everyone else might have thought it was simply going to be a ceremonial joy ride into the night, Pujols had other ideas.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s been awesome having the opportunity to come back to St. Louis where everything started for me 21 years ago,” he said. \u201cThis organization believed I can help. It wasn’t just come back to celebrate my last year, it was knowing I can help. That means a lot to me.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s pretty special to help this organization win every way I can, and enjoying my last path through this city.”<\/p>\n
It was the Los Angeles Dodgers, Pujols said, that re-energize him. He was released by the Los Angeles Angels last May in the final year of his 10-year, $240 million contract. The Dodgers, even with no DH in the National League last year, decided to give him a chance. Pujols became a pinch-hitter deluxe, hitting .254 with 12 homers in 189 at-bats to help lead the Dodgers to the postseason<\/p>\n
\u201cI had so much respect for that organization, so much respect for the players, and was so blessed to have the opportunity to be back in the playoffs,” Pujols said. \u201cIt kind of really excited me to come back and play this year because they gave me the joy, gave me that thrill of being back in the postseason.”<\/p>\n
Now, it’s just like 2011 all over again. Pujols has the Cardinals sitting atop the National League Central with a five-game lead over the Milwaukee Brewers, feeling like he’s a kid again.<\/p>\n
He hit a 437-foot homer off veteran lefty Madison Bumgarner in the second inning, a 429-foot homer in the fourth inning, and nearly homered again in the sixth when the ball left his bat at 109.4-mph, caroming off the left- field wall.<\/p>\n\n
He even tried to steal second base in the sixth inning, was barely thrown out, and produced another single in the seventh inning.<\/p>\n
He was a one-man show.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel really good to tell you the truth,” Pujols said. \u201cI really didn’t know what I could do, but I know I put in a lot of hard work with the gift the Lord has given me. I didn’t know what the year would look like, but what I could control was dedication and hard work.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cBecause of that hard work, I’m able to get better, stay healthy, and accomplish a lot of things in this game that a lot of players have never done.”<\/p>\n
Pujols, who will go down as one of the greatest right-handed hitters of all time, can’t even keep track of all his accomplishments. Chris Conroy, the Cardinals’ assistant trainer, constantly brings in baseballs for Pujols to sign and authenticate, with Pujols asking what just happened.<\/p>\n
On this night, the historic achievement was passing Musial, the Cardinals’ all-time great, in total bases (6,141) for second place behind only Hank Aaron (6,856). And yes, Conroy got the baseball with the home-run ball bouncing back into the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s just crazy, every day that I go to a game,” Pujols says, \u201cthey’re asking for a baseball. I say, ‘Ok, what is this for?’ They say, ‘oh, you just tied or passed so-and-so.’ I’ll say, ‘What, I didn’t know that. I swear, I’m not BS’s you, I have no idea.'” <\/p>\n
He was quite aware of the history of this milestone, though. <\/p>\n
Musical has a huge statue at the entrance of Busch Stadium. He was Pujols’ mentor and idol when he came up with the Cardinals, and Pujols was moved, even a bit emotional, that he was the one to eclipse Stan the Man.<\/p>\n
\u201cJust to be mentioned in the same sentence is awesome,” Pujols said. \u201cWhat he has done for this organization is pretty incredible. I’m sure he’s looking down and smiling on me.”<\/p>\n\n
Now, there’s one magical milestone left. It’s the one everyone in baseball talks about. The 700-home run club, the most prestigious fraternity in all of baseball.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe talk about it all of the time when he’s not around,” Arenado says. \u201cI mean, 700 home runs? That’s something hardly anyone has seen. It’d be pretty special.”<\/p>\n
While everyone is transfixed on 700, Pujols will tell you he’s more proud of a number no one talks about these days: He has 2,187 career RBI. The only men in history with more RBI are Aaron (2,297) and Ruth (2,214).<\/p>\n\n
\u201cThat’s the number that means everything to me,\u201d Pujols said. \u201cThat’s how you win games. It takes four walks to get an RBI. It takes one homer to get at least one, or a base hit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat’s how you win, scoring runs. If somebody comes up to me and says that RBIs are overrated, I’ll tell them they are freaking crazy.”<\/p>\n
The dream, of course, is for Pujols to leave the game with the ultimate prize, another World Series championship. He already has two rings, with plenty of room for another. Yet, no matter what transpires the final six weeks, no matter whether he hits 700 homers, no matter how far the Cardinals advance into October, he’s leaving the game with an impeccable reputation and a plaque reserved for him in Cooperstown.<\/p>\n
He played the game clean, played it right, and respected the game every moment he has stepped onto the field.<\/p>\n
Sign up for our sports newsletter:<\/strong>All the sports news you need to know delivered right to you!<\/p>\nWho else would be OK being pinch-hit for by a rookie with aa right-hander on the mound, with the crowd of 34,248 loudly booing the hometown kid, Nolan Gorman, and offer encouragement as he stepped to the plate? When Gorman delivered a single, guess who was on the top step of the dugout wildly cheering?<\/p>\n
Yep, Pujols.<\/p>\n
It was a moment that Gorman will never, ever forget. He’ll be able to tell his kids, grandkids, and great grandkids that there was an August night, with 150 friends and family members in attendance, when he pinch-hit for the great Hall of Famer.<\/p>\n\n
\u201cIt was awesome,\u201d said Gorman, who has an autographed jersey from Pujols. \u201cThat’s all I was thinking about was getting this job done for Albert.”<\/p>\n
That’s Pujols, the ultimate teammate, role model and ambassador.<\/p>\n
It hurts him when he sees players like Fernando Tatis Jr. busted for performance-enhancing drugs knowing that their careers are stained forever. He hopes that Tatis and others who have been suspended for PEDs can be forgiven, but he knows they’ll never again be viewed the same.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don’t judge people, but it saddens me to see that being from the same country, the Dominican Republic, and the mistake the guy made,” Pujols said. \u201cIt doesn’t make you a bad person, but you made a bad choice. All it takes is a bad choice and it just stinks to see that not just for them, but for baseball and the people in our country.<\/p>\n
\u201cI’m on the radar just like everybody else, but there’s a huge responsibility you have to carry with you,\u201d Pujols added. \u201cThat responsibility I have with God has helped me have the success I’d had. I know there’s a lot of people, a country that has followed me throughout my career, and I want to make them proud.”<\/p>\n
Mission accomplished, 700 homers or not.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo matter what happens, buddy,\u201d Pujols says, \u201cI wouldn’t change a thing. I’ve had an unbelievable career. How blessed am I?”<\/p>\n
Follow Nightengale on Twitter: @Bnightengale<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n