With the All-Star Game in
If you don’t buy into the poll, Pujols’ stats throughout his career are difficult to argue with. From his entry into the league in 2001, Pujols has reigned amongst the top 16 in the National League in batting average, hits, home runs, runs batted in, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, on-base plus slugging (OPS), and runs during every season! In Pujols’ 2008 MVP season, he finished in the top four in homers, rbis, runs, and slugging percentage. As of July 9th, Pujols led the National League in homers, rbis, runs, and slugging percentage while 3rd in batting average and 10th in hits. See another pattern? Even if Pujols doesn’t earn MVP honors this year, odds are that he will finish in the top ten (as he has every season) or second (as he did in 2002, 2003, and 2006).
Aside from top honors, Pujols has a lot of other hardware to display including a 2006 Rawlings Gold Glove at first base, four Silver Slugger Awards (2001, 2003, 2004 and 2008), the 2003 NL Hank Aaron Award, the 2008 Roberto Clemente Award, the 2001 NL Rookie of the Year Award, and a 2006 World Series championship. Not bad eh? Pujols has the opportunity to add a Home Run Derby championship this year as he competes as one of the four NL selections.
Has Pujols always been this dominant? Yes, since playing high school ball in Missouri Pujols has displayed an offensive prowess and an ability to play any position on the field. Pujols earned all-state honors twice at
Off the field, Albert and his wife, Deidre, started the Pujols Family Foundation in efforts to combat Down syndrome and poverty in the
