St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Albert Pujols. (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)
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St. Louis Cardinals legend Albert Pujols hit his 699th and 700th home runs in Los Angeles on Friday night, receiving a standing ovation from Dodgers fans and Twitter.
Albert Pujols is in the 700 club.
The Cardinals star made a welcome return to Dodgers Stadium on Friday night and gave his love to Dodgers fans for reinvigorating his love of baseball.
Then he thrilled them by hitting his 699th and 700th career home runs.
Albert Pujols hits 700: Best memes and tweets from insomniacs
The night started with Pujols two away, so the celebration when he hit No. 699 was pretty huge. Cardinals fans loved it. Dodgers fans loved it. Baseball fans loved it.
Albert Pujols is one home run away from 700 in his career.
He launches a two-run no doubt home run in the third inning in Dodger Stadium, the place he credits for rejuvenating his career.
— Katie Woo (@katiejwoo) September 24, 2022
699 is hit at Dodger Stadium. The fans are giving Albert Pujols a standing ovation.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 24, 2022
https://twitter.com/ChiliJawz/status/1573510735413624832
The Angels should have to sell the team purely based on the fact that Pujols is a very serviceable baseball player still and all LA did was pay him and ruin him for those years.
— Local Recruits Only (@lisadancefit) September 24, 2022
With No. 699 out of the way, fans waited eagerly for No. 700.
If Albert Pujols hits his 700th HR tonight I’ll name my second child Albert
— Marc Luino (@GiraffeNeckMarc) September 24, 2022
Well Marc, time to deliver on that one because Pujols did it. The wait for No. 700 was practically nothing. On his next at-bat, Pujols went yard.
I can’t believe I randomly decided to fly to LA for a game and saw Albert Pujols hit his 699 & 700th HR
— Marc Luino (@GiraffeNeckMarc) September 24, 2022
Albert Pujols becomes the first man ever born outside of the United States to hit 700 major league home runs.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) September 24, 2022
Former Dodger Albert Pujols hits No. 700 at Dodger Stadium. He crosses home plate and the first high-five he gives is to former Dodger Adrian Beltré.
— Dodger Insider (@DodgerInsider) September 24, 2022
Albert Pujols just became the fourth member of the 700 home run club. He has now hit exactly 500 home runs off of right-handed pitchers and 200 off of lefties.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) September 24, 2022
Albert Pujols has 4 multi-home run games this season
Before him, nobody had ever had 2 multi-HR games in a season at age 42 or older
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) September 24, 2022
Dodger Stadium is rolling a montage of all 700 of Albert Pujols’ career home runs. Very cool.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) September 24, 2022
Ballparks where Albert Pujols reached his milestones
100: Dodger Stadium
200: Busch Stadium II
300: Busch Stadium III
400: Nationals Park
500: Nationals Park
600: Angel Stadium
700: Dodger Stadium
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) September 24, 2022
Pujols’ place in the Hall of Fame was already set. Getting to 700 career home runs just solidifies his legacy as one of the greatest of all time. He sits fourth all-time in home runs behind only Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth.
He was an MVP-level player in St. Louis for a decade before signing with the Angels. However, his decade in Los Angeles wasn’t particularly fruitful until he swapped Angels red for Dodgers blue. His 2021 showing was resurgent and put him on track to return to St. Louis for a final season in MLB with his productivity vastly improved. So it was fitting for Pujols to hit this mark in Dodgers Stadium.
The only more fitting place would have been St. Louis. Despite his age, Pujols has been a hot hitter in the second half of the season. Getting to 700 once seemed unlikely. Pujols made it look easy instead.
