The best and worst moments of the 2010s for the St. Louis Cardinals

4th Worst: Albert Pujols signs with Anaheim Angels

Honestly, this could have been way higher on the list if Albert had continued to tear up opposing pitchers but it almost ended up being a “not so horrible” thing whenever we started seeing the demise of The Machine.

Albert Pujols will go down as one of the best, if not the best St. Louis Cardinals hitter of all time. There is no doubt he was the best player of the previous decade and seemed like there was no chance that you would ever see Pujols in another jersey other than a Cardinals one.

A Cardinals fans’ worst nightmare came true after the 2011 season in which the Cardinals won the World Series when Albert Pujols decided to chase the money and start a new life in Anaheim when he signed a 10 year 240 million dollar contract. He left the entire fanbase heartbroken and stunned.

Looking back at the deal at the end of the century, it seems like almost a blessing that the Cardinals do not currently have to pay that contract. Without him leaving, we likely would not have been blessed to see Allen Craig rise to stardom quickly then fall to minor league even quicker, we would not have traded for Paul Goldschmidt, and we would be doomed by his contract and would always be second-guessing long term contracts due to this one.

As much as this fanbase will always appreciate Mr. Pujols for his incredible play while here in St. Louis, most of us are not upset we did not retain him looking back now.