Albert Pujols is the slugging superstar first baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals.  2007 is Pujols' seventh season of playing Major League Baseball. 

Albert Pujols is the only player in MLB History to bat over .300, with 30+ HRs, 100+ RBIs, and 100+ runs scored in each of his first 6 MLB seasons.

Albert Pujols Biography

Albert Pujols was born Jose Alberto Pujols on January 16, 1980 in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic.  In 1996, at the age of 16, Albert Pujols moved to the United States, settling in the Kansas City area.  He graduated from Fort Osage High School in Independence, Missouri, after twice earning all-state honors in baseball.  He made a name for himself at Maple Woods Community College where he earned a baseball scholarship, and was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1999 free agent draft.  Pujols was signed by baseball scout Dave Karaff.  After only one year in the minors, Pujols was invited to spring training with the Cards.  His performance was so good that he never got sent back down to the farm team.

In 2001, Pujols put up good enough numbers to earn the NL Rookie of the Year award.  In both 2002 and 2003, Pujols finished second to Barry Bonds in National League MVP voting.  Albert's .359 batting average at the end of the 2003 season earned him his first NL Batting Title, as well as a 7 year, $100 million contract to play baseball in St. Louis through the end of the 2010 season.

2001-2003  In Albert's first season with the Cardinals, he won the 2001 National League Rookie of the Year award.  There was no "sophomore jinx" for Pujols.  He came in second to Barry Bonds in NL MVP voting in both 2002 and 2003.  Albert Pujols was the NL's leading vote getter for the 2003 All-Star Game.  Pujols also won his first batting title in 2003 with a .359 batting average.  The St. Louis Cardinals rewarded Pujols with a 7 year, $100,000,000 contract, the largest deal in franchise history.

The Cardinals won 105 games in 2004 to win the NL Central Division.  The St. Louis Cardinals won the National League Championship by defeating the Houston Astros 5-2 in Game 7 of the NLCS.  Albert Pujols was named the NLCS MVP.  Pujols hit .500, going 14-for-28 in the NLCS with 4 homers and 9 RBIs.  Unfortunately, the Boston Red Sox swept the 2004 World Series in 4 games.

Pujols' has perhaps the biggest game of his big league career to date when on July 20, 2004 against the Chicago Cubs when Albert Pujols went 5-5, including 3 home runs, a double, 4 runs scored and 5 RBI to lead a dramatic come from behind win 11-8 over the Cubs in the Cardinals' final game of the year at Wrigley Field.  The Cardinals went on to win 105 games to win the NL Central Division.

Albert Pujols finished the 2004 regular season batting .331 with a career high 46 home runs (tied for 2nd).  Pujols had 123 RBI (3rd), a .657 slugging percentage (2nd) and ranked #1 in NL runs scored with 133.  His 51 doubles also tied his career high.  After beating the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS, the St. Louis Cardinals won the National League Championship by defeating the Houston Astros 5-2 in Game 7 of the NLCS.  Albert Pujols was named the 2004 NLCS MVP.  Pujols hit .500, going 14-for-28 in the NLCS with 4 homers and 9 RBIs.  Unfortunately, the Boston Red Sox were the team of destiny, sweeping the 2004 World Series in 4 games.

Albert's wife Deidre has a daughter with Down Syndrome, whom Pujols has adopted.  Albert Pujols does a lot of charity work with the Down Syndrome Association Of Greater St. Louis.  He has also recently set up the Pujols Family Foundation.

2006 was Albert Pujols' third full season as the St. Louis Cardinals everyday first baseman.  He won his first Gold Glove Award as he led the St. Louis Cardinals to their first World Series Championship since 1982 (Pujols was just 2 years old).  Fans who have been following his career from the beginning felt it was just a matter of time before Pujols won his first Gold Glove Award -- it was just a matter of Pujols settling into and mastering a full-time position.  Remember Pujols 2001 Rookie of the Year season when he also played outfield and third base.