Albert Pujols seemed like a long shot early last month to reach 700 home runs, still more than a dozen swings from the hallowed mark and his power stroke all but gone, but showing the pop of his youth in the final weeks of his career, the 42-year-old slugger got there on Friday with two long shots.
Pujols hit his 700th home run, connecting for his second drive of the game and becoming the fourth player in major-league history to make it to the milestone as the St Louis Cardinals routed the Los Angeles Dodgers 11-0.
Pujols joined Barry Bonds (762 homers), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714) in one of US baseball’s most exclusive clubs.
Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY
“Don’t get me wrong, I know where my places stand in this game, but since day one when I made my debut, I was never about numbers, never about chasing numbers,” Pujols said. “It was always about winning championships and tried to get better in these games.”
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts gladly gushed about Pujols’ accomplishment.
“This is like the Mount Rushmore of sluggers, so to reach that 700 home run mark, it’s remarkable,” Roberts said.
A man wearing a blue Dodgers shirt with Hideo Nomo’s No. 16 on the back snagged the 700th homer ball. He was whisked under the stands as he clutched a black glove containing the historic souvenir ball to his chest. Prolonged negotiations went on before the man was escorted out of Dodger Stadium flanked by 10 security personnel and into a waiting SUV.
“Souvenirs are for the fans,” Pujols said. “I don’t have any problem if they want to keep it. That’s why the fans come here, to have a special moment of history.”
Stirring up images of his dominant days as a three-time NL MVP, Pujols hit No. 699 in the third inning, then launched No. 700 in the fourth.
A 37-year-old Los Angeles man, Cesar Soriano, snagged No. 699. He turned the ball over to security after being told he could meet Pujols.
It has been a remarkable and resurgent run for Pujols. This was his 14th home run since the start of last month for the National League Central-leading Cardinals and his 21st of the season.
Roberts marveled at the improbability in July of Pujols making history in late September.
“I wouldn’t doubt him, but the stars seem to kind of have to align for it to play out like this,” Roberts said. “I don’t think Albert even thought it was a possibility.”
In other games on Friday, it was:
‧ Reds 3, Brewers 5
‧ Rays 10, Blue Jays 6
‧ Orioles 6, Astros 0
‧ Marlins 5, Nationals 2
‧ Yankees 5, Red Sox 4
‧ Rangers 3, Guardians 6
‧ Pirates 5, Cubs 6
‧ Phillies 9, Braves 1
‧ White Sox 3, Tigers 5
‧ Royals 5, Mariners 1
‧ Twins 2, Angels 4
‧ Rockies 4, Padres 3 (10i)
‧ Athletics 2, Mets 9
‧ Diamondbacks 5, Giants 6
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