Fansided

MLB Draft: Top 10 steals of all time

By David Salituro

ANAHEIM, CA - May 25: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels bats during the game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on May 25, 2019 in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CA - May 25: Albert Pujols #5 of the Los Angeles Angels bats during the game against the Texas Rangers at Angel Stadium on May 25, 2019 in Anaheim, California. The Angels defeated the Rangers 3-2. (Photo by Rob Leiter/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /
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Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images
Photo by Rich Pilling/MLB Photos via Getty Images /

1. Albert Pujols

Over the course of his 19-year career, Albert Pujols has established himself as one of the best players in MLB history. His 642 home runs rank sixth all-time. Earlier in 2019, he became only the third player since 1920 to reach the 2,000-RBI milestone. But the one thing that still rankles him two decades later is that 401 players were picked ahead of him in the 1999 MLB draft.

“It’s a chip on my shoulder that I will have for the rest of my career, until I’m done wearing a uniform,” Pujols said in 2016. “I still think about it.”

All 30 MLB teams had a chance to pick Pujols coming out of Maple Woods Community College in Missouri. They all passed him up multiple times. The St. Louis Cardinals finally drafted the 19-year-old in the 13th round, 402nd overall, signing him for $30,000. It was a move that proved a godsend for the Cardinals franchise.

Pujols made an immediate impact with the Cardinals organization, homering in his first two minor league at-bats. He spent just one full season in the minors before debuting with the big league club in 2001. He went on to hit .329 with 37 home runs and 130 RBI in his rookie season, winning Rookie of the Year honors and finishing fourth in MVP balloting. In 11 seasons with the Cardinals, he hit .328 with 445 home runs, winning three MVPs and leading the club to World Series titles in 2006 and 2011. He moved west to sign with the Los Angeles Angels before the 2012 season, where he’s gone on to hit another 197 home runs.

Not bad for a 13th round pick. Consider that 289 of the 401 players picked ahead of him never played a game in the Majors. Pujols has spent the last 19 years proving teams wrong and remains the best draft steal in MLB history.

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