Albert Pujols' 30th home run makes history
Written by Ozzie Gonzalez,
www.latinosportslegends.com
August 6, 2005 -- Hard-hitting Dominican slugger of the
St. Louis Cardinals, Albert Pujols, made major-league baseball
history on Friday when he became the first player to hit 30 home runs in each of his first five
seasons.
Pujols, 31, ripped the first pitch he saw, a hanging split-fingered fastball from Atlanta's John Smoltz
into the left-field seats at Busch Stadium for his 30th home run.
The home run was estimated at 383 feet and gave the Cardinals a 2-0 lead.
Pujols made his Major League debut with the Cardinals in 2001, when he hit .329 with 37 homers and 130 RBIs. He hit 34 homers in 2002, 43 in 2003 and 46 last season.
The Cardinals retrieved the ball from a fan in the left field stands in exchange for a ball autographed by
Pujols. Not that Pujols thought it was a big deal.
"If I can stay healthy, I know I'm capable of doing that," Pujols said. "So, I don't think about it. The thing I want is a championship, that's what I want to appreciate at the end of my career."
"He is a classic high-average hitter because he takes a relentless approach every at-bat,"
said Manager Tony La Russa. "Every at-bat he's the same way. He battles the great pitchers, he battles the real good ones, the good ones, the ones that are trying to make it."
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