The St. Louis Cardinals and their fans got quite a treat this morning when it was announced that the once cornerstone of the franchise, Albert Pujols, would be returning to St. Louis for perhaps his final season.
The deal is a one-year deal worth $2.5 million.
Pujols played the first 11 seasons of his career in St. Louis before going to Southern California for stints with the Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Today, the longtime franchise icon made his triumphant return, walking onto the field at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium, the Cards’ spring training home, and receiving a chorus of cheers while the song “Hall of Fame” by The Script played in the background.
Albert Pujols arrives in Jupiter, Florida, to joyous Cardinals fans.
🎥 @soloucity pic.twitter.com/ycbVbKz8uG
— The Athletic MLB (@TheAthleticMLB) March 28, 2022
A Perfect Homecoming
This was truly a beautiful moment.
It’s been so long since we’ve seen “The Machine” don Cardinal red and the Birds on the Bat.
This was a full circle moment for Cards fans, many of whom spent a generation watching Pujols break franchise records and reach historic milestones.
It’s always nice to see a player have a nice homecoming to their old team, but this one was extra special.
The baseball world was shocked when Pujols initially left St. Louis, but now he returns to where it all started, and we likely won’t see him wear another uniform besides that of the Cardinals from here on out.
What makes this even more special is that Yadier Molina and Adam Wainwright, two of Pujols’ longtime Cardinals teammates, are each in the final year of their career.
Having Pujols rejoin his old squad makes it bittersweet and gives him a chance to go out with his brothers.
Sports can be wholesome too, and this moment right here was bigger than baseball.
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