Albert Pujols

Albert Pujols was born January 16, 1980, in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Recognized as a dominant force in baseball, Pujols has had a storied career with major accomplishments including being a three-time National League (NL) Most Valuable Player and a World Series Champion with the St. Louis Cardinals. Notably, Pujols has earned the nickname "The Machine" due to his consistent performance and prowess on the field.

Pujols played for the St. Louis Cardinals for 11 seasons, where he was a nine-time All-Star, and for the Los Angeles Angels for 10 seasons, making one All-Star appearance in 2015. Throughout his career, Pujols has been a six-time Silver Slugger and twice led the NL in home runs. He also led the league in batting average, doubles, and RBIs in different seasons. His career regular-season batting average stands at .299. In 2018, Pujols collected his 3,000th career hit, becoming the 32nd player in MLB history to do so, and the fourth player to reach both 3,000 hits and 600 home runs.

From 2001 through the 2007 seasons, Pujols led the major leagues in total bases (2,514) and extra-base hits (593). He won the Rookie of the Year award in 2001 and later signed a significant contract extension with the Cardinals before the 2004 season. Pujols won his first World Series in 2006 with the Cardinals, a pivotal moment in his career. His excellence in defensive play was recognized in 2006 when he won his first Gold Glove award and received his first National League MVP award.

Beyond his athletic prowess, Pujols is active in philanthropy, particularly through the Pujols Family Foundation, which he started in 2005 with his wife to support the cause of Down Syndrome. As a devout Christian, he plays with a purpose to "glorify God and to accomplish in this game what everybody wants to accomplish," aligning his personal faith with his professional endeavors.