Why was Albert Pujols allowed to use an illegal bat?

Houston Astros catcher Martin Maldonado used an illegal bat in Game 1 of the World Series that was actually used by Albert Pujols. Why was Pujols still allowed to use it?

The Houston Astros lost their very first game of the postseason after blowing a 5-0 lead in Game 1 of the World Series to lose 6-5.

One story that followed entering Game 2 was that Astros catcher Martin Maldonado used a baseball bat gifted to him by former Los Angeles Angels teammate and St. Louis Cardinals legend Albert Pujols. As it turns out, the bat was actually illegal.

So why was Pujols allowed to use the illegal bat?

Why was Albert Pujols allowed to use illegal bat?

FOX Sports’ Tom Verducci discussed the topic as Maldonado stepped into the batter’s box for his first at-bat for Game 2. Verducci said that MLB had changed the bat specifications in 2010, and Pujols’ bat was no longer legal. However, if any player used that bat prior to 2010, it was officially grandfathered in.

Hence why Pujols was still allowed to use it after the ban took place. Maldonado, on the other hand, began his playing career in 2011.

In Game 2, Maldonado had to go back to using his old baseball bat.

Maldonado did get an RBI single with that bat in the second inning of Game 1. However, that hit did not play a factor in the end result of the game, as the Phillies won after a solo home run by catcher J.T. Realmuto in the top of the 10th inning.

Pujols played his final MLB season after re-signing with the Cardinals. He had an explosive second half of the season, where he reached 700 career home runs and helped the team clinch the NL Central. St. Louis was swept in the Wild Card Round by the Phillies.