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We need to appreciate Albert Pujols more than we are

By Baasil Ebrahim

HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 23: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim lines out to Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros in the second inning at Minute Maid Park on April 23, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - APRIL 23: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim lines out to Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros in the second inning at Minute Maid Park on April 23, 2018 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Bob Levey/Getty Images) /
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Albert Pujols just got his 3,000th career hit and its time we stop talking about him as a bad contract and appreciate the greatness we have witnessed.

First of all, congratulations Mr. Pujols on this accomplishment, it is yet another thing you have done to put you in rare air.

This is the second year we are going to do this to Albert Pujols. Last year it was his 600th home run and this year is his 3,000th hit. For the last few years, when we aren’t talking about his contract, we have just taken the momentary breaks to appreciate him, then it is back to scrap heap.

How can we do this to such a great player? Pujols is a first ballot Hall-of-Famer, three-time MVP, and two-time World Series champion. So what, age caught up to him and he isn’t the same as he used to be. Just try to remember how he used to dominate games. If you don’t remember, let me break it down for you.

Pujols has the 21st best WAR of all time, and the second-best WAR for any first basemen ever, only behind Lou Gehrig. It also isn’t just because he has played 18 years in the league, which is an accomplishment in and of itself, he also has the second-best top-seven years. That alone should say all we need to know.

If you need to hear more, I have more numbers for you.  He has had an OPS over 1.000 eight times in his career, a career batting average above .300, and finished in the top-five in MVP voting seven times besides the 3threeyears he won it. Pujols is an all-time great, see him as that.

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I have a friend whose favorite baseball player is Albert Pujols. Last year, we, along with 10 other friends went to a Mets and Angels game where we screamed until Pujols turned and waved. He had chills run down his back simply because Pujols waved at us. That is the feeling Albert Pujols should give everyone.

We are doing an injustice to his greatness by continually not talking about him in such a light. Let’s change that and begin to truly appreciate Albert Pujols, one of the greatest first basemen of all time.

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