Vital Statistics:
Born: January 16, 1980
Hometown: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Height: 6-3
Weight: 230
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Family: Wife, Deidre; daughters Isabella and Sofia; sons A.J. (Alberto Jr.) and Ezra
Primary position: First base
Before The Bigs:
- Pujols’ family moved to the United States in the early 1990s, first to New York, then to Independence, Missouri.
- He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1999 amateur draft.
- He spent just one season in the minors, hitting .324 with 17 home runs and 84 RBIs at Class A Peoria in 2000, then 21 games at Potomac and three games at Triple-A Memphis. He made the Cardinals’ roster in the spring of 2001.
- Career Highlights:
- First player since Ted Williams to begin his career with six consecutive 100 RBI seasons.
- Hit .329 with 37 home runs and 130 RBIs and was named NL Rookie of the Year in 2001, in just his second pro season. He was fourth in the NL Most Valuable Player voting.
- In his first six seasons, he never finished lower than fourth in the NL MVP balloting, winning the award in 2005.
- Led the Cardinals to the World Series title in 2006, hitting a career-high 49 home runs and 137 RBIs in the regular season and batting .331.
- Has 13 postseason home runs in his first 53 postseason games.
- Five-time National League All-Star entering 2007.
- Career Highlights:
- First player since Ted Williams to begin his career with six consecutive 100 RBI seasons. Extended that to 10 seasons in 2010.
- Hit .329 with 37 home runs and 130 RBI and was named NL Rookie of the Year in 2001, in just his second pro season. He was fourth in the NL Most Valuable Player voting.
- In his first six seasons, he never finished lower than fourth in the NL MVP balloting, winning the award in 2005. In his first 10 seasons, he never finished lower than ninth.
- Signed a seven-year, $100 million contract extension in 2004, with a $16 million club option for 2011.
- Led the Cardinals to the World Series title in 2006, hitting a career-high 49 home runs and 137 RBI in the regular season and batting .331.
- Hit 13 postseason home runs in his first 53 postseason games.
- Won his second NL MVP award in 2008, when he hit .357 with 37 homers and 116 RBI. Won the league's Roberto Clemente Award for his charitable work.
- Repeated as MVP in 2009, hitting .327 with 47 homers and 135 RBI. The Cardinals returned to the playoffs, but lost in the first round.
- Won his first Gold Glove Award at first base in 2010. Finished second in MVP voting after .312, 42 HR season. It was the fourth time he'd finished second in MVP voting.
- Made his ninth NL All-Star team in 2011, but missed the game because of a wrist injury.
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