Cardinals: Albert Pujols’ Best Moments During The 2022 Season

Cardinals fans roar at Busch Stadium

On April 7, 2022, fans gathered for the most beloved and cherished spectacle in the city of St. Louis: Opening Day. This one, however, was remarkably even more special than the usual home opener. The Machine had finally returned home for one last ride with long time teammate and close friend, Yadier Molina.

Despite the thunderous applause for his pre-game introduction, it paled in comparison to that magical first at bat.

As the crowd cheered, overcome with emotion, Pujols fought back tears as he took his first plate appearance as a Cardinal in over 10 years.

Despite the at bat concluding with a fly out to left, Pujols wouldn’t have wait for long to start seeing success at the plate.

“It’s Like You Never Left”

April 12 saw the renewal of the I-70 rivalry as the Cardinals took on the Kansas City Royals for their second series of the homestand. Third baseman Nolan Arenado quickly brought the Cardinals into the lead with a two-run blast, bringing Albert Pujols to the dish for his second game of the year.

Seeing the perfect pitch to feast upon, The Machine hammered the ball to left for his first dinger of 2022. All it took was one pitch. It was his first home run as a Cardinal since the 2011 World Series and it drove the crowd absolutely wild. A curtain call was in order and Albert graciously delivered. With 680 homers, Pujols was just 20 shy of one of the rarest and more incredible feats in sports: 700 home runs.

The moment was summarized perfectly by Dan McLaughlin’s legendary call: “Welcome back, Albert! It’s like you never left!”