ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - Albert Pujols' wife created some big headlines on Monday night, when she posted on Instagram that her husband was retiring after this 2021 season. She's since walked back that statement, but it still made many St. Louis Cardinals fans think about the historic career of No. 5.
And it made me think about how his career stats compare to the greatest Cardinals of all time.
Below is a list of where he sits in some major statistical and award categories. You'll see the name Stan Musial ahead of him in most places. In fact, Pujols finishes second to The Man in 14 categories in Cardinals franchise history, including RBI, doubles, extra-base hits and intentional walks.
Unless he decides to come back to St. Louis, here's where he'll finish his career in Cardinals history:
Rookie records for home runs, RBI
(Photo by SL - via USA Today Images)His 130 RBI and 37 HRs are Cardinals records for a rookie. The RBI total also set an NL record for rookies, and his 37 big flies were one short of tying the home run record at the time.
World Series rings - tied for 10th
(Photo by Whitney Curtis/Getty Images)Pujols' World Series Championships in 2006 and 2011 are tied with a number of two-time Cardinals winners, like Molina who was also on both of those teams. Players like Musial, Pepper Martin, Marty Marion and other all are tied with 3 rings as a Cardinal.
WAR (position player) - 3rd
(Photo by Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)His 86.6 career Cardinals WAR is behind only Stan Musial (128.3) and Rogers Hornsby (91.4).
Career All-Star Games - Tied for 7th
(Photo by Tim Vizer/Belleville News-Democrat/MCT/Sipa USA)His 9 career All-Star Game appearances as a Cardinals are tied with Yadier Molina. He appeared in 1 game as an Angel. He's behind Musial, Ozzie Smith, Ken Boyer, Enos Slaughter, Red Schoendienst and Joe Medwick.
Slugging percentage - 2nd
(Photo by Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/MCT/Sipa USA)His .617 slugging % is behind only Mark McGwire at .683.
Home runs - 2nd
(Photo by Chris Lee/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/MCT/Sipa USA)He hit 445 for St. Louis which is 30 behind Musial for the most in Cardinals history. But Pujols is fifth in all-time career homers with 662. He'd need 34 to tie Alex Rodriguez for fourth-most in MLB history.






