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Prior to the All-Star break, Cardinals legend Albert Pujols looked like a player slinking toward his impending retirement, slashing .215/.301/.376 with six home runs and 20 RBIs. But after receiving an All-Star invitation—a well-deserved reward for a certain Hall of Fame career—Pujols absolutely took off in the second half of the season and has put together a campaign to remember.
In the second half, Pujols has hit .323/.388/.715 posting 18 home runs and 48 RBIs. After the first few months of the year, it seemed unthinkable that Pujols would reach the 700 home run mark, a milestone previously only accomplished by three all-time greats: Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth. Pujols finished the regular season with 703 homers for his career, and the 42-year-old slugger played like an MVP throughout the summer as St. Louis took control of the NL Central.
