NEWSLETTER
Today certainly is the day for record breaking, isn’t it? Already we watched as Big Papi became the oldest player ever to hit 30 home runs in a single season, and 24-year-old Jose Fernandez break the Marlins’ single season strikeout record with number 210.
As a Cubs fan, my feelings about Albert Pujols have always been torn. While he was with St. Louis, I never hated Pujols – the way we can often lovingly hate a rival team’s star player – it was always more of a jealous respect. There was simply no arguing with his utter dominance and career relevance.
But that doesn’t mean I liked him.
In that way (and for a couple other reasons, as well), I was pretty thrilled to see Pujols leave the Cardinals and the NL Central a few years ago. His absence provided me with the opportunity to enjoy his presence in baseball a lot more. For example, I can now thoroughly enjoy a moment like last night, when he did something historic.
Check out Albert Pujols’ 584th career home run:
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According to ESPN’s home run tracker, that ball left Pujols’ bat at 106.3 MPH and traveled a distance of 401 feet. Oh, and it also placed him among the top 10 home run hitters of all time. Indeed, with home run number 584, Albert Pujols passed Mark McGwire for the 10th most career home runs in the history of baseball. Moreover, he needs just three more long balls to move up another spot, over Frank Robinson at 586.
The top ten all-time home run leaders always struck me as baseball’s most revered list of athletes, and last night, a new one joined the fold. Congrats to Albert Pujols. I, for one, think this is a very big deal.
