The Life of Albert Pujols



Most people know Albert Pujols as a baseball player and that is what he is most famous for, no doubt. While his baseball career is undeniably incredible, you have to wonder who the man is behind all of that power and the equally impressive offensive and defensive games. Where was he born, where does he live, and where did he come from? These are common questions as the young Albert Pujols becomes more and more well known in Major League Baseball.

Albert Pujols Portrait
Albert Pujols Batting
Albert Pujols Homerun

Personal Life and Personal Victories
This St. Louis Cardinals first baseman was born on January 16, 1980 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Albert and his family immigrated to the United States in the early 1990s and upon his arrival Pujols realized that he loved the game of baseball. Albert loved to play baseball, watch baseball, and even talk about baseball. The game quickly became his passion and practice paid off. In high school Albert was known as a great hitter with a batting average of over .500 his first season, which is undeniably impressive. Unlike a lot of young men, Albert’s passion for baseball didn’t die when he graduated from high school. Instead, Pujols attended Maple Woods Community College in Kansas City. His first season with the community college team proved fruitful, as he hit a grand slam and turned an unassisted triple play! Albert Pujols made his talent, with a batting average of .461 his first year in college.

While Albert has always been passionate about baseball, it hasn’t been his only focus in life. It may come as a surprise to many, but Pujols is married and has been since January 1, 2000. The couple has three children, whose names are Isabella, Albert Jr. and Sophia. Albert has used his fame and MLB status in his active participation with Down Syndrome foundations as his daughter Isabella was born with the condition. Actually, in 2005 the Pujols formed the Pujols Family Foundation which is all about helping people that have or are affected by Down Syndrome. Albert Pujols has also been very active in outreach programs that target the poor people living in the Dominican Republic, the place of his birth. It’s interesting that a man so successful in his Major League Baseball career could have so many other facets to his life that are so important. Pujols is also an active Christian, which is obvious when you visit his family’s foundation website.

Professional Victories
Albert has been very successful in the major leagues, though he has just five years of experience as a true major leaguer. The first of his accomplishments came in 2001 when Pujols was named Rookie of the Year. In 2003, Albert Pujols won the prestigious Hank Aaron award and that same year he also won the TSN Player of the Year recognition. A special year was 2004 when Albert Pujols was named the NLCS MVP. The 2005 year was not without recognition as Pujols was acknowledged as the 4 time All Star for the 2001, 2003, 2004 and 2005 baseball seasons. Albert Pujols has also won the Silver Slugger award for 2001, 2004 and 2004 for three different positions which were first base, third base, and outfield.

Of course, the list of awards and acknowledgements for Pujols goes on and on. Some of the more notable are the fact that Pujols became the first player in Major League Baseball to hit 30 homeruns in each of his first five seasons. Pujols has also finished in the top four in votes for the MVP of the National League every year of his career, though he has won only once and was in second place twice. Pujols took pride in being named to the Major League’s Latino Legends Team in 2005, where he was the starting first baseman. Most recently Pujols was recognized for being the fastest player in the league’s history to reach 19 homeruns. Pujols was able to hit 19 home runs by May 13, 2006, which is very impressive!

There is no doubt that Pujols has led a very extraordinary life, immigrating to the United States in the 1990s and then playing for the major leagues, or what many consider to be the heart and the sport of America. Baseball is in fact a great American pastime, but somehow Albert Pujols has been able to balance his life so that he can not only make $14,000,000 a year but also give back to the poor people in the Dominican Republic and help raise awareness and lend support to families touched by Down syndrome. Albert Pujols’ whole life is interesting because he is above average, awe-inspiring, and someone to watch out for well into the future whether it’s in the Major Leagues or with many of the groups that he is active with.