St. Louis Cardinals: Happy late birthday to “The Machine”

January 16th was former St. Louis Cardinals’ superstar Albert Pujols’ birthday. Let’s take a look back at the now 39-year-old and his time with the Cardinals.

Albert Pujols will never be forgotten in St. Louis Cardinals‘ history. The former St. Louis superstar should get all the accolades from the team that a superstar should get. I’m talking Cardinals Hall of Fame, number 5 getting retired and getting his statue placed outside of Busch Stadium. Pujols already has one statue in West Port Plaza, but it would be no stretch to say that he deserves one next to all the others surrounding Busch.

During his time here in St. Louis, Albert Pujols won too many accolades to list, but the highlights include 2001 ROY, three MVP’s and nine All-Star game appearances. If that doesn’t put how great Pujols’ was in perspective, during his 11 years in St. Louis, he never finished outside of the top 10 in MVP voting. Albert’s worst season in St. Louis was in 2011 when he was a measly 48% above average at the plate.

Growing up in St. Louis County, the effect Pujols had on my childhood alone can’t even be stated. Going to games at Busch, I was always star struck seeing him. I even had the pleasure of watching two of his 12 career walk-off home runs. He was my childhood hero, and was the basis for what formed my thinking about what the St. Louis Cardinals identity was.

More from St Louis Cardinals History

• Reflecting on the 2013 Cardinals’ top 30 prospects
• Cardinals: The best Silver Slugger performances at each position.
• The St. Louis Cardinals are in rare company with this free agency stat
• What Happened to the 2011 St. Louis Cardinals? Matt Holliday Edition
• The St. Louis Cardinals avoided disaster with Jason Heyward

Then, after 2011, that identity was shattered in a way. I had never known the Cardinals without Pujols. Anytime anyone would bring up Albert, my mind would instantly shoot back to Busch Stadium. Leaving town was nothing I considered possible until it actually happened.

Coming after probably the best World Series run I will ever see in 2011, Pujols signed his current 10 year, $240M deal with the Angels and left as a 31-year-old.

Looking back, John Mozeliak was extremely smart to hold off on beating that deal and let Pujols walk. In his time in Los Angeles, Pujols has never put up a season as good as the ones he had in St. Louis, but has still been able to provide value because of the availability to DH.

On January 16th, “The Machine” turned 39 and is still chugging away as a first baseman and DH for the Angels. Coming off a year where he had just a 0.5 WAR, the Angels are still on the hook for three years and $87M for Pujols. If that was being payed to him in St. Louis, I have no doubts that there would be a section of fans screaming for Mo’s head.

Albert Pujols was a stabilizing force in the lineup of the St. Louis Cardinals for an entire generation of fans. I can not wait until he finally returns to St. Louis on June 21-23 in 2019. I hope the ovation delays the game as our superstar returns after seven years. Happy Birthday Albert.