Jeff C. Young - Albert Pujols: A Baseball Star Who Cares

A Baseball Star Who Cares

Albert Pujols was never a first baseman before he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals as a thirteenth-round draft pick. But it took Albert only one season in the minors to make it to the big leagues. Ever since, he has been one of the best players in baseball. With the Cardinals, Pujols won two World Series rings, three MVP awards, and a two home run titles. In 2012, Pujols took his talents to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Through his foundation, Albert continues to prove he is an all-star on the field and off!

About the Author

Award-winning author Jeff C. Young has worked as a library media specialist, and as a sportswriter for several Florida newspapers. Other titles he has written for Enslow Publishers, Inc., include True Underground Rescue Stories and Amazing African-American Actors.

Since becoming a major-league player in 2001, Albert Pujols has become one of the games most feared and respected hitters. Many sportswriters and commentators have called him a natural because he often makes hitting a baseball look easy.

Even though his success has come quickly, Pujols has never taken it for granted. Hes maintained a demanding year-round training regimen. He still spends many hours in batting cages practicing and perfecting his swing and timing. When hes off the field, he spends additional hours studying videos of opposing pitchers.

Although hes noted for his hitting, Pujols is also an excellent fielder whos won two Gold Glove Awards. Hes also a smart base runner who seldom makes a mistake on the base paths.

Simply calling Pujols a great baseball player doesnt completely describe him. Being a good husband, father, and role model is as important to him as being a good player and teammate.

Its part of my responsibility to play the game the right way and be an example to kids who look up to me, just like when I was a little boy and looked up to big league players, Pujols said. I know how many kids out there want to be like Albert Pujols.

Being a role model and setting a good example isnt something that Pujols merely talks about. In 2005, Pujols and his wife, Deidre, established the Pujols Family Foundation. The foundation works to improve the quality of life for children with Down syndrome. Its something they care deeply about because their oldest daughter, Isabella, has Down syndrome.

Their foundation also provides funds for educational opportunities and medical services for needy children in the Dominican Republic, their native country.

Hitting home runs was nothing new for Albert Pujols. In 11 major-league seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, he had done it 445 times. But a spectacular display of power hitting in Game 3 of the 2011 World Series forever linked his name with two Hall of Fame players and World Series heroes: Babe Ruth and Reggie Jackson. On that night, Pujols became only the third player to hit three home runs in a World Series game.

Ruth did it twice as a New York Yankee against the Cardinals in 1926 and 1928. Jackson also did it as a Yankee in 1977. His three consecutive homers on three consecutive pitches in Game 7 gave the Yankees a World Series championship against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Pujolss first home run came in the top of the sixth inning with two men on and St. Louis leading 86. Texas Rangers pitcher Alexi Ogando tried to blaze a 96 mile-per-hour fastball past Pujols. For an ordinary batter, it would have been hard to hit. The pitch was shoulder high and on the inner half of the plate. Pujols smashed it into the second deck of left field. The ball traveled an estimated 432 feet.

Its hard to hit a ball that far, said Pujolss teammate, Matt Holliday, let alone off of a guy throwing 96, letter-high. Not a lot of guys, if any, can do that.

Albert Pujols celebrates at home plate after blasting his third home run in Game 3 of the 2011 World Series.

An inning later, Pujols swatted his second home run. It was on a first-pitch fastball from Mike Gonzalez. The two-run shot traveled 424 feet before landing into the seats in the deep left-center field section of Rangers Ballpark. Along with being his second home run, it was Pujolss fourth hit in four innings. That made him the first player to get four hits in four consecutive innings (fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh) in a World Series game.

Despite having hit so many home runs, Pujols was still in awe of this massive shot he hit off of Alexi Ogando.

With the Cardinals leading 146 in the ninth inning, Pujols thought about asking his manager, Tony LaRussa, to take him out of the game. He didnt. That gave Pujols one final trip to the plate. He got it when the Cardinals were down to their last out.

On a 22 count, Pujols fouled off a pitch from Darren Oliver that came very close to being an out. The foul ball fell just beyond the reach of Rangers first baseman Michael Young. Holliday was standing in the on-deck circle. He saw that Pujols still looked relaxed and confident.

Albert Pujols will do whatever it takes to win. He is a team player that wants to make others around him succeed.

I looked at him, Holliday said, and he kind of smiled like that could have been the third one. So he did iton the next pitch.

That next pitch was an 89 mile-per-hour sinker that Pujols hit into the lower deck of the left field seats. Pujols ended the game going 5-for-6 and tying two other World Series records. He became the second player to get five hits in a World Series game. And he was just the third player to get six RBI in a World Series game. He also set a new World Series record by getting 14 total bases (three home runs and two singles) in a game.

Pujols was flattered to be compared with two of the games best sluggers. But he added that helping his team win was more important than setting records.

Those guys are great players, and to do it at that level and on this stage is amazing, he said. But at the same time, I didnt walk into the ballpark today thinking that I was going to have a night like this. I walked to the ballpark with the attitude that I have every day, to help this ball club to win, and I was able to do that.

Albert Pujols was born January 16, 1980 in Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is a small country which makes up the eastern two-thirds of the Caribbean island of Hispaniola. The country of Haiti makes up the other third. Albert was the youngest of twelve children. His parents divorced when he was very young, so he was raised by his father, Bienvenido, and his grandmother, America.