Posted on 09/04/2006 9:04:02 AM PDT by Charles Henrickson
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Albert Pujols has a daughter with Down Syndrome, and the St. Louis Cardinals' annual "buddy walk" game always seems to bring out his best.
Children with Down Syndrome circled the field in pre-game ceremonies, and then stood with players at their positions during "The Star-Spangled Banner." More than a few asked him to hit a home run for them.
He then homered in his first three at-bats, honoring Isabella Pujols and all special needs children in a 6-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.
"It's always good to do something special for those kids, but I don't try to put pressure on myself," Pujols said. "It doesn't matter if they're there or not. I'm just going to try the best I can to help my team to win."
Since Pujols became spokesman for the "buddy walk" games in 2002, he's 9-for-20 with five homers, nine RBIs and seven runs scored while the Cardinals have gone 4-1.
"If that's the case," he said, "we need to bring those kids more often."
Pirates pitcher Ian Snell said he had to laugh after Pujols' third straight home run off him. He also said he felt like giving last year's NL MVP a high-five.
"I mean, that's unreal," Snell said. "That's like Superman playing baseball."
Pujols connected with the bases empty in the first, and hit two-run drives in the third and fifth, all off Snell (12-9). He's 4-for-6 with four homers and seven RBIs against Snell, and with 42 homers reached the 40-mark for the fourth straight season. It was his third three-homer game, his second of the season.
Philadelphia's Ryan Howard homered in his first three at-bats in a doubleheader opener against Atlanta. It was the first time two players homered three times on the same day since Pujols and Cleveland's Travis Hafner did it on July 20, 2004. It was the first time a pair did it in the first three plate appearances since Cincinnati's Johnny Bench and Atlanta's Orlando Cepeda -- a pair of Hall of Famers -- on July 26, 1970.
Pujols missed a bid for a fourth homer in the seventh with a drive to left off Brian Rogers that was caught by Jason Bay just shy of the warning track, protesting afterward that he never tries for the long ball.
"Was I trying to hit the first one, the second one, the third one?" Pujols said. "No, I just try to have good at-bats. Like I say, it's not about me, it's about my team."
Many fans stood during the at-bat and gave Pujols an ovation as he trotted back to the dugout. Prodded by teammates, Pujols rewarded a sellout crowd with curtain calls after his second and third homers.
"He's such a hungry hitter, he's always got a chance," manager Tony La Russa said. "He just got under it a little bit against a pitcher he's never seen before."
Pujols, who also homered three times against Cincinnati on April 16, entered in an 8-for-38 slump with only two-extra base hits in 10 games since homering twice and driving in a career-best seven runs on Aug. 22 at New York. He has been hampered somewhat by elbow soreness, although he has not missed any games.
Pujols scored his 100th run on the third homer, giving him 100 or more in each of his six seasons. He's the only player in major league history to hit 30 homers, score 100 runs and bat .300 in his first five seasons, and he is batting .321 this year.
Love the quote from the Pittsburgh pitcher: "That's like Superman playing baseball."
I'll post some photos in a little bit.
St. Louis Cardinals Albert Pujols stands with "Down Syndrome Association starting line up" first baseman Brendan Hodges before the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates Sunday, Sept. 3, 2006 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis. Pujols is the events honorary chairman.
It seems to me that in this day of drugged up athletes and bad boy athletes, the story of Pujols has gone under-reported. He is truly one for the ages.
Here's why:
1) He doesn't play in New York or Boston, thus ESPN is not interested.
2) He's a good guy. No scandals, trash talk, etc.
True and I seem to recall he's a fairly religious guy which is a definite no-no.
"no scandals..."
Not yet, perhaps. But when his trainer, a close friend who Pujols has been working with since he was 18, is referenced this past year by steroid/HGH abuser pitcher Jason Grimsley as the conduit to these substances, I'll reserve judgement on Albert's bid for sainthood.
I'm not buying it, however.
Amen. Earlier this year he struck out and tossed his bat. For a couple of weeks there were rumors all over the BB blogs about his 'bad attitude' and the dissent in the Cards dugout. What tripe. In actuality when he got home his wife told him it didn't look good, so he publicly apologized.
Ruthian indeed...when I heard about this in the morning, I just shook my head and smiled. THIS guy is the real Big Poppy...
I can't stand his perpetual smirk, and his lumbering out of the box after he crushes the ball, but the dude can play. No doubt about that. But there's no way he's really 26.
Is that you, Brad Lidge? :-)
Yes. I spend all my time FReeping instead of working on my mechanics, and there you have this season.
and Isabella is his adopted daughter. Very good man, nice story.
Deidre Pujols's Biography:
“I knew it even before the doctors knew.” Deidre Pujols remembers. “Minutes after I gave birth to my daughter Isabella, the nurse showed her to me and I knew that she had Down Syndrome.”
The 21 year old single mother knew instantly that her life would never be the same. But she had no idea how right she was. Just weeks after Isabella’s birth some friends invited Deidre to a Salsa Club for a ‘girls night out’. It was there she saw Albert Pujols for the first time. “Albert never went to clubs. He did not drink, he didn’t even want people smoking around him.” Deidre recounts. “It was meant to be.”
On their first date, at the Cheese Cake Factory, Albert made a confession. “He told me that he had lied about his age, he told me he was 21, but he was only 18.” Deidre says “But, I had a confession of my own.”
It was then that Deidre told Albert that she had an infant daughter, and that she had Down Syndrome. “I found some literature about Down Syndrome in Spanish, so he could understand completely.” Half expecting never to hear from Pujols again, Deidre was amazed when Albert opened his heart to Isabella and embraced her as his own child.
The couple was married on January 1, 2000. Soon after the wedding, the Pujols family found themselves with the Cardinals farm team in Peoria, Illinois. “Albert was making $252.00 every two weeks, we were truly living on love!” Deidre laughs. “We ate a lot of Mac-n-Cheese in those days.”
“Then Albert got the call from The Cardinals in 2001... and everything went crazy!"
On May 5, 2005, Albert and Deidre launched a long-time dream: The Pujols Family Foundation, (www.pujolsfamilyfoundation.org) which exists to honor God and strengthen families through their works, deeds and example. The Foundation is dedicated to the love, care and development of people with Down Syndrome and their families. In addition, the Foundation has a global vision, reaching out to impoverished families and children in the Dominican Republic, Albert’s native country.
Deidre will quickly tell you that God and her family are the primary focus of her life. ”But, to whom much is given, much is required.” Deidre quotes Luke, 12:48. “We have never forgotten our past or those who are in need. I believe we are put on this earth for a purpose. I believe God has blessed us with the unique blessings that we have for a specific reason. Faith, Family and Others is so much more than a mission statement to me, it is my calling.”
Deidre and Albert live in St. Louis with their three children.
Good one. Albert got another homer today too. He is Superman!!
What is it you are not buying? The point about Pujols' trainer/friend and that guy's involvement with Grimsley is not an arguable point, no one is denying it. You probably think the fact that both Sheffield and Giambi used the same Balco trainer as Bonds shouldn't raise any suspicion whatsoever about their possible steroid use. Gimme a break. Apparently, you would be stunned at the extent of the juicing in MLB.
I don't believe that.
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