On Friday night, St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols made history.
Not everyone could actually watch it live, as the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers was aired via streaming service Apple TV+ instead of regular networks, but he hit home runs 699 and 700 to join an exclusive club.
“The 700 HR club now has its 4th member,” MLB tweeted, with a graphic of the four immortals.
The 700 HR club now has its 4th member. pic.twitter.com/eGSPzuPHuA
— MLB (@MLB) September 24, 2022
Babe Ruth, with 714, was the first player in the exclusive 700-homer club, having played in the 1910s, 20s, and 30s.
Henry Aaron surpassed his final tally with 755 round-trippers in the 1950s, 60s, and 70s.
Then Barry Bonds came along in the eighties and hit 762 long balls, a record that still stands today, in the eighties, nineties, and 2000s.
Pujols made his stellar debut in 2001 and immediately showed that he was an elite hitter.
An Unexpectedly Brilliant Season
He entered the season needing exactly 21 dingers to reach 700.
Given his recent performance, it looked unlikely: he is, after all, 42 years old and had been declining for some time now.
Playing in front of a town that loves him and makes him feel important must have revitalized him, because he is slashing .264/.336/.524 with exactly 21 homers and a 141 wRC+ (100 is considered average) this season.
Pujols has been everything the Cards have hoped and more.
Playing mostly against left-handers, he has achieved a level of performance we haven’t seen from him since, at least, 10 years.
He is going out in style, as he is retiring after the campaign ends.
He will get to enjoy one final playoff run with his beloved Cardinals, and showed the world he is part of an exclusive group.
NEXT: Albert Pujols Is Also Seeking History On A Streaming App