Legendary first baseman and likely Hall of Famer Albert Pujols on Monday announced he will retire following the 2022 MLB season, telling reporters, 'This is it.'
"We are pleased and excited to have Albert return to the Cardinals for the upcoming season," said Cardinals Chairman Bill DeWitt, Jr., in a statement."This reunion with Albert is a wonderful opportunity for not only him and the Cardinals, but also for our great fans, the St. Louis community, our players and staff, and everyone connected to the St. Louis Cardinals organization.
"Seldom does one get to share in watching or being a part of ‘living’ history," said Cardinals’ President of Baseball Operations John Mozeliak. "From the day we called Albert’s name in the draft room back in 1999, to now, as we set our sights on 2022, this reunion just makes sense in so many ways.
Despite not playing until 2001, Pujols holds the 2000s decade NL"Triple Crown" for batting , home runs and RBI .Los Angeles AngelsPujols played in 1,181 games for the Angels, where he batted .256, hit 222 home runs, and drove in 783 runs. Pujols was released by the Angels last May, just a few months before his contract ended.