Pujols << POO hohlz >>, Albert (1980-…), ranks among the greatest batters in major league baseball history. He was known both for his power as a home-run slugger and for his ability to hit for a high batting average. Pujols played with the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League from 2001 through 2011. After the 2011 season, he signed with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim (now called the Los Angeles Angels) in the American League. In May 2021, the Angels released Pujols, and he signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League. In 2022, he returned to the Cardinals. Pujols retired from baseball at the end of the 2022 season. 
Pujols led the National League in batting in 2003 with a .359 average. He became the first player to hit at least 30 home runs in each of his first 10 seasons in the major leagues. Pujols led the league in home runs in 2009 with 47. In 2010, he led the league in home runs with 42, in runs batted in with 118, and in runs scored with 115. He was named the National League Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 2005, 2008, and 2009. In 2018, he became the 32nd player in major league history with 3,000 hits. In 2022, Pujols became only the 4th player to hit 700 career home runs.
Pujols batted and threw right-handed. He was primarily a first baseman and designated hitter. Pujols won the Gold Glove Award as the National League’s best defensive first baseman in 2006 and 2010.
José Alberto Pujols Alcántara was born on Jan. 16, 1980, in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. He grew up in poverty. Pujols moved with his family to the United States in the early 1990’s. He starred as a high school player in Independence, Missouri. He played one season for a community college before the Cardinals selected him in the 13th round in the 1999 draft. After playing one year of minor league ball, Pujols made his major league debut in 2001. He was named the National League Rookie of the Year for the 2001 season.
In 2005, Pujols and his wife, Deirdre, established the Pujols Family Foundation. The organization is dedicated to helping people with Down syndrome and people living in poverty in the Dominican Republic.
