Pujols

The baseball season is officially underway! Today is the day that many fans, around the country and globe, look forward to for months after the World Series draws to a close in early November. It is often referred to as PACR, or Pitcher’s and Catcher’s report (to spring training, that is) day. For those of you with cabin fever, it also symbolizes that spring itself is just around the corner. But for me, any many others, the start of spring training this year is particularly meaningful. All of baseball will be watching to see what happens with Albert Pujols and his (non)contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.

It is not an exaggeration to say that Albert Pujols is something of a remarkable baseball player – or that he is a remarkable human being. At 6’ 3” and 230 pounds, Albert is a monster of a man, and an imposing presence in the batters box. Baseball is a game of numbers and his numbers are jaw dropping. In ten seasons in the big leagues, he has a career .331 battering average, has hit 408 home runs, driven in 1230 runs, amassed 1900 hits, and scored 1186 runs. For the sabermetric nerds out there, his OPS (on-base percentage plus slugging percentage) is a ridiculous 1.050 – good for fifth all-time behind guys named Ruth, Williams, Gehrig, and Bonds. Those are really good players in case you live under a rock like that guy in the latest Geico ad. He has won three MVP awards, two gold glove awards for his work at first base, and been selected to nine all-star games. I could go on and on about this guys offensive numbers. By the end of his career he will most likely be considered a lock as a first ballot hall-of-famer, and could be known as one of the all-time greats.

But Albert is more than just a baseball player. In 2008, he was awarded the prestigious Roberto Clemente award “which recognizes the player who best exemplifies the game of baseball, sportsmanship, community involvement and the individual's contribution to his team.” He even has a rare quality of humility that you don’t seem to see in many athletes today. Albert actually asked to not be referred to as “the man” in deference to another former cardinal, the great Stan “the man” Musial. He says that he will never be as good as Musial. Although the statistics would prove otherwise, it is a humble gesture that deserves notice. Interestingly, today, Stan Musial has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This award is given to those who have made “an especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." It is the highest award a civilian can receive. The Cardinals franchise is lucky to have had both of these men play baseball and serve in the St. Louis community.

This brings me to the point of this article. The eyes of the sporting world are on Albert Pujols right now. Tomorrow is the deadline for the Cardinals to re-sign Pujols to a long-term contract. If not, one of baseball’s best players of this generation, and the best one to ever do so, will have the chance at the end of this season to test the free agent waters. It is believed by many that Albert could command the highest salary in the history of professional sports here in the United States. Union officials are interested in Albert pushing the salary bar even higher than Alex Rodriguez increased it, not once but twice. Currently the bar is at a cool $33 million…per year. Union officials want players to make as much money as possible. Of course, this could have a major impact on fans via ticket prices, etc. What will Albert do?

The Cardinals are not likely to be the highest bidding suitors. That honor will likely go to a team in a larger market. But money isn’t everything, right? St. Louis is where he has made his home. This is where he is an icon. This is where he has spent his entire career. Dare I say it….St. Louis is where he belongs. Gone are the days, for the most part, when players spend their entire careers with one team. Notable exceptions in Hall-of-Fame caliber players are Derek Jeter and Mariano Rivera, both who play for the Yankees. I’m not sure they count since the Yankees can always offer the most money. I guess there is Chipper Jones, too. But mostly players leave to go to the highest suitors, particularly through the vehicle of free agency.

All we can do is wait. In the meantime, I will continue to hope tonight that Albert will sign an extension with the Cardinals and tomorrow I will wake up and find out that he will be there for the duration of his career. He has a chance to make history. Where will he go? How much will he make? Will he exceed A-Rod’s $33 million per year contract? Will he take less money to stay with the Cardinals? Much is at stake. We have already seen what happens when one of the best players in a sport leaves a gaping hole in a franchise (see Cleveland’s 9-46 record if you don’t know what I am talking about). What will Albert do? I am not sure, but I will definitely be watching. Even though I am not a Cardinals fan, per se, I would love to see Albert stay in the city where he has provided fans with such great memories already. It would be fun to watch him chase the home run record in St. Louis, one of the truly great baseball cities. Stay tuned.