The year is 2004; I am with my brother and his friend, and we went to this third party game store in Jersey City. We saw this baseball game; and up to that point, the only baseball games I had played at that point was MLB Slugfest 20-03 (great, great game), and MLB 2000 with Mo Vaughn on the cover. Since I was going to attempt to try and get into baseball, I decided to purchase MVP Baseball 2004; who featured Albert Pujols on the cover. Pujols was a member of the St. Louis Cardinals at the time, and that was the team I wanted to play with since he was on there. From there, the Cardinals had become my favorite team, and Pujols became my favorite player.
Year after year, Albert Pujols continued to amaze me. He came in the league in 2001, and was the model of consistency that we have seen in baseball in the 2000’s, but doing it while clean. Despite seeing disappointments my first two years of watching baseball, it turned around as the Cardinals won the World Series in 2006 while Pujols was a key contributor. For the next four years, while Pujols remained the dominant slugger that he was, the championships lacked.
With free agency approaching for Pujols, things were looking bleak in 2011; especially since the front office failed to sign him to an extension in Spring Training. The team was pretty mediocre throughout the season, and it took a collapse of epic proportions from the Atlanta Braves for the Cardinals to slither into the playoffs. That playoffs was something special for the Cardinals as they ran through a gauntlet of extremely talented teams en route to a World Series championship. With Pujols having one of the most memorable World Series games ever in game 3, and being a key contributor on a championship winning team, it seemed likely the Cardinals would bring him back.
Going into free agency, I was extremely confident we’d sign Pujols back. I mean, why wouldn’t I be? The Machine spent his first ten season seasons with the team, and is coming off winning his second World Series. The thought of having my feelings hurt by his departure never crossed my mind….until it actually happened. On the fateful day of December 8, 2011, Pujols left for the Los Angeles Angels. I can not speak for every fan, but I know I took this really, really hard. I tore up my posters, made profanity-laced statuses on Facebook, made “traitor” memes, and many more in Pujols’ direction. The business side of it was irrelevant to me; I just cared that one of my favorite athletes on my favorite team had left. No one could tell me anything.
Eight years later, Pujols will finally make his long awaited return to St. Louis despite their interleague meetings that took place in Anaheim. Now, I know a lot of Cardinals fans; including myself, who absolutely destroyed Pujols for leaving, but there absolutely no reason why any Cardinal fan at Busch Stadium should boo him this weekend. Here’s the thing; Pujols leaving the Cardinals was good for both sides. For the Cardinals, it opened things up for the likes of Allen Craig, all the way to Paul Goldschmidt. There is not a single superstar that wants to be offered a five year deal, and it was the same case for Pujols. so John Mozeliak completely dropped the ball by not giving his franchise player the security he wanted.
Going to the playoffs eased the wounds of Pujols leaving, so it admittedly makes it easier for fans to cheer him over the weekend. I am writing this as a guy in Jersey City, but for someone who lives in St. Louis, understand the Pujols never really left despite not being a Cardinal. His work with children with Down Syndrome should be commended as it always amazing to add the human element to athletes; contrary to some beliefs.
Despite Albert Pujols being the catalyst of one of my biggest sports heartbreaks, he remains my favorite baseball player of all time. I may not have said that a couple of years ago, but I just needed a break. Let’s just remember this was the man that was apart of two championship teams, and the philanthropist he has been. He will have a statue outside of Busch, his number will be retired; so it is time to embrace him again if you have not done so. Welcome home, Albert; I forgive you.
