Albert Pujols joins Ruth and Jackson
In a performance for the ages, St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols hit three home runs and had six RBI's last night during his team's 16-7 Game 3 victory over the Texas Rangers. Pujols joins the legendary Babe Ruth and outspoken Reggie Jackson as the only players in the history of baseball to hit three home runs in a single World Series game. He also set a World Series record in achieving 14 total bases.
Long considered one of the best (if not the best) players of his generation, Pujols' home runs last night in the sixth, seventh, and ninth innings erased any doubts of his ability to come up big in the Fall Classic. While Pujols has historically had success in the LDS and LCS rounds of the playoffs, he did struggle in the World Series during the Cardinals appearances in 2004 and 2006. Entering Game 3 it seemed it was only a matter of time before Pujols erupted, and the press provided him with some additional motivation in the day leading up to the game; Pujols had gone hitless in his first six at-bats of this series, he had botched a cutoff in Game 2 that allowed the go-ahead run to get in scoring position for the Rangers, and his leadership skills were questioned in a petty article by Yahoo Sports. His critics undoubtedly retreated further into hiding after each of his moonshot home runs were launched into the Texas night.
It's only fitting that a player of Pujols' status is now in the record books alongside such renowned sluggers as Ruth and Jackson as he will one day join them in Baseball's Hall of Fame. The contrast in personalities between the three men who have achieved this feat is rather interesting to examine. Ruth is considered by many baseball historians to be the greatest player who ever lived, and was a larger than life figure both on and off the field. Jackson was a great-home run hitter and played on five World Series' winning teams, but a large segment of society remembers him for his me-first attitude and confrontations with Yankee Manager Billy Martin. Pujols by all accounts is a good teammate who plays the game hard, and spends his time away from the field working on the "Pujols Family Foundation". Even after his record-setting performance in Game 3 he tried to deflect attention away from himself and shift the focus to his teammate’s to make sure they received credit as well.
Pujols’ power display couldn't have come at a better time for the Cardinals. Game 3 is always viewed as the "swing" game in any baseball playoff series, and the victory by the Cardinals assured them that at the very least the series would return to St. Louis if they happen to lose the next two. Momentum going into the contest seemed to be on the Rangers side after their dramatic come from behind win in Game 2, but this now reverts back to the Cardinals. Game 4 features a pitching matchup of Derek Holland of the Rangers going against Edwin Jackson of the Cardinals, and the series will either be tied in a few hours or the Cardinals will have a decided 3-1 advantage. While this is an intriguing subplot, I am more interested in seeing what Albert Pujols will do for an encore tonight.
Long considered one of the best (if not the best) players of his generation, Pujols' home runs last night in the sixth, seventh, and ninth innings erased any doubts of his ability to come up big in the Fall Classic. While Pujols has historically had success in the LDS and LCS rounds of the playoffs, he did struggle in the World Series during the Cardinals appearances in 2004 and 2006. Entering Game 3 it seemed it was only a matter of time before Pujols erupted, and the press provided him with some additional motivation in the day leading up to the game; Pujols had gone hitless in his first six at-bats of this series, he had botched a cutoff in Game 2 that allowed the go-ahead run to get in scoring position for the Rangers, and his leadership skills were questioned in a petty article by Yahoo Sports. His critics undoubtedly retreated further into hiding after each of his moonshot home runs were launched into the Texas night.
It's only fitting that a player of Pujols' status is now in the record books alongside such renowned sluggers as Ruth and Jackson as he will one day join them in Baseball's Hall of Fame. The contrast in personalities between the three men who have achieved this feat is rather interesting to examine. Ruth is considered by many baseball historians to be the greatest player who ever lived, and was a larger than life figure both on and off the field. Jackson was a great-home run hitter and played on five World Series' winning teams, but a large segment of society remembers him for his me-first attitude and confrontations with Yankee Manager Billy Martin. Pujols by all accounts is a good teammate who plays the game hard, and spends his time away from the field working on the "Pujols Family Foundation". Even after his record-setting performance in Game 3 he tried to deflect attention away from himself and shift the focus to his teammate’s to make sure they received credit as well.
Pujols’ power display couldn't have come at a better time for the Cardinals. Game 3 is always viewed as the "swing" game in any baseball playoff series, and the victory by the Cardinals assured them that at the very least the series would return to St. Louis if they happen to lose the next two. Momentum going into the contest seemed to be on the Rangers side after their dramatic come from behind win in Game 2, but this now reverts back to the Cardinals. Game 4 features a pitching matchup of Derek Holland of the Rangers going against Edwin Jackson of the Cardinals, and the series will either be tied in a few hours or the Cardinals will have a decided 3-1 advantage. While this is an intriguing subplot, I am more interested in seeing what Albert Pujols will do for an encore tonight.
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