The career of Albert Pujols is officially coming to an end after 22 years in Major League Baseball from 2001-2022. “The Machine” spent time with three different teams in his surefire Hall of Fame career, and ended his incredible run with some fireworks in his final season.
Pujols spent the first 11 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals, where he quickly garnered a reputation as one of the best right-handed hitters in all of MLB. Prior to the 2012 season, he signed a 10-year mega-deal to join the Los Angeles Angels as a pillar piece to their franchise.
Following his release from the Angels in ’21, the Los Angeles Dodgers claimed him, and Pujols is quoted as saying he found a new fire for the game in the second half of that season. His production led him to return for one more year and prior to the 2022 year, he re-signed with the Cardinals as his final send-off.
Pujols became a force for the Cardinals this season, crossing the 700-home run mark, slugging 24 homers, and posting a .895 on-base plus slugging, helping them reach the postseason. According to the league, he made his retirement official this week, via Manny Randhawa of MLB.com:
It’s official: Albert Pujols’ legendary MLB playing career is over after the 42-year-old signed retirement papers with the Cardinals on Monday, a source told MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.
Pujols made his MLB debut as a 21-year-old from Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic, but he leaves the game of baseball as a three-time Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, an 11-time All-Star, two-time World Series champ, six-time Silver Slugger winner, and three MLB Player of the Year awards.
There aren’t many careers like that of Pujols, and in his time with the Cardinals, Dodgers, and Angels, he left an imprint on each franchise for his class, a wealth of knowledge, humility, and passion for baseball.
Albert Pujols made final All-Star Game roster because of new rule
Pujols was selected to the National League All-Star roster in his final season. His return to the Cardinals after a decade with the Angels, and a stint with the Dodgers, put a bow on a legendary run for a generational player.
Commissioner Rob Manfred announced that he added both Pujols and Detroit Tigers slugger, Miguel Cabrera to the NL and American League teams as part of a new rule that gives him the ability to add players via special recognition.
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