He's got natural God-given ability. The 42-year-old, who said he'll retire at the end of the 2022 season, hit his 699th and 700th home runs on Friday. .blLcNM .content .share-btn button{font-weight:600;}/*!sc*/ There are no limits, and he wants to keep going. @media (max-width:350px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item__link .icon__nav-item{display:none;}}/*!sc*/ Albert Pujols punctuated a magical final season with his 700th career home run Friday night, a shot that made him just the fourth major league player in history to reach the milestone. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item:focus a{outline:1px dotted #fff;}/*!sc*/ body.article .ad-top-container{background-color:#f3f3f3;padding:8px 0;min-height:66px;}/*!sc*/ @media (max-width:1023px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-items--quick--show-revenue .header__nav-top__nav-item{margin-top:-12px;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-items--quick--show-revenue .header__nav-top__nav-item__link{padding:0;}}/*!sc*/ Jul 18, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; St. Louis Cardinals first baseman Albert Pujols (5) reacts after his at-bat in the second round during the 2022 Home Run Derby at Dodgers Stadium. All Rights Reserved by Baseball Almanac, Inc.Hosted by Hosting 4 Less. Or write about sports? Question, Comment, Feedback, or Correction? The greatest lineups ever? Reaching 700 home runs. data-styled.g167[id="Styles__StoryPartContainer-sc-1mfrmm0-0"]{content:"groqnz,"}/*!sc*/ According to ESPN Stats & Information research, it's his fourth career game with multiple dingers since turning 42 years old, the most by a player 42 or older in MLB history. Pujols also became only the fourth member of the 3,000-hit club to also hit 600 home runs, joining Willie Mays, Hank Aaron, and Alex Rodriguez in this exclusive club. Here's how WBC offenses stack up with MLB's best, Scherzer tries to test pitch clock limits, gets balk, Jays 'playing it safe' after Guerrero tweaks knee, PitchCom-tipping: Loud device leaks Twins calls, Eflin's first start after $40M deal impresses Rays, Rangers' Leclerc to miss WBC with neck injury, Rockies' Rodgers may need surgery, '23 at risk, Rojas to withdraw from WBC, stay with Dodgers. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#081c3b;}/*!sc*/ The 694th home run in the brilliant career of St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols also set a Major League record. Stan Musial, one of the finest players in the majors during the late 1940s and in history, ended his holdout 75 years ago Saturday. 699 and 700 against the Los Angeles Dodgers. data-styled.g161[id="newsletterOptinstyle__Submit-sc-d7sh2p-6"]{content:"huJzbO,"}/*!sc*/ High School: Fort Osage HS (Independence, MO), School: Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods (Kansas City, MO), Debut: @media (min-width:1024px){article > header{padding:0;}}/*!sc*/ @media only screen and (min-width:568px){.hYmwpY{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb .p-search-item__image-selector--active{background-color:#4c8cee;}/*!sc*/ .eJdqRG a{color:#057AFF;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ Only four sluggers in MLB history have hit 700 home runs, a list that now includes Pujols: For what it's worth, Pujols has averaged one homer ever 16.3 at-bats in his career, which is a top-40 mark in history but does lag behind other premium power hitters. The home run in the eighth inning put the Blue Jays into a 5-4 lead and they went on to win 7-4. . It's been something of a late-career renaissance for Pujols -- his return to the St. Louis Cardinals for what he says is his final season has sparked his best offensive year in over a decade. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__main-nav,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__subnav{height:100%;overflow-x:hidden;overflow-y:auto;overscroll-behavior:contain;touch-action:manipulation;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch;}/*!sc*/ Its something thats coming from God above. Hes believing in his abilities. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold-italic.woff2') format('woff2'), url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-bold-italic.woff') format('woff');font-weight:700;font-style:italic;}/*!sc*/ PUJOLS IS IN SOLE POSSESION OF 4TH ALL-TIME! .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:focus,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:hover{border-radius:3px;background-color:#dddddd;color:#002867;}/*!sc*/ I admire him a lot, and to be able to see what hes doing, its impressive. Throughout his 22-season career, "The Machine" played in 11 All-Star Games and was named National League MVP . .hHLkAw input:focus{outline:none;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight:hover .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ I admire him a lot, and to be able to see what hes doing, its impressive. .mHQYb .p-search-item__info{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav__item:focus{outline:1px dotted #041E42;}/*!sc*/ @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-regular-italic.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-regular-italic.woff') format('woff');font-weight:400;font-style:italic;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ Rains (@BJRains) October 5, 2022 ","type":"markdown"},{"__typename":"Video","contentDate":"2022-10-04T00:49:43.438Z","description":"Albert Pujols hits a two-run home run against the Pirates for his 703rd homer #CreatorCuts","displayAsVideoGif":false,"duration":"00:01:14","mp4AvcPlayback":"https://mlb-cuts-diamond.mlb.com/FORGE/2022/2022-10/03/951c7e2b-23cde3d3-6dd7cf2a-csvm-diamondx64-asset_1280x720_59_4000K.mp4","slug":"check-out-pujols-703rd-homer","tags":[{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"gamepk-662309","title":"2022/10/03 stl@pit"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"teamid-138","title":"St. Louis Cardinals"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"playerid-405395","title":"Albert Pujols"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"exclusive-angle","title":"exclusive angle"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"home-run","title":"home run"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"international-feed","title":"International Partner feed"},{"__typename":"Tag","slug":"eclat-feed","title":"Eclat feed"}],"templateUrl":"https://img.mlbstatic.com/mlb-images/image/upload/{formatInstructions}/mlb/ukpddxlibwke7qcrjwzn","title":"Check out Pujols' 703rd homer","type":"video","url":"/video/check-out-pujols-703rd-homer"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Pujols, who has announced that this will be his final MLB season, had just two home runs in April and two in May before going homerless in June. .mHQYb .p-search-item__container{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;height:50px;border-top:0;min-width:250px;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}/*!sc*/ Normally that would mean sitting Pujols against righties, but with a sizable NL Central lead, St. Louis can afford to give Pujols more at-bats against righties, giving him as many bites at the apple as possible. @media (min-width:768px){.epHHrr{max-width:500px;}}/*!sc*/ General. .mHQYb .p-search__input{-webkit-appearance:none;position:relative;height:40px;font-family:'mlb-primary','Helvetica Neue','Helvetica','Arial', sans-serif;box-shadow:inset 0 1px 1px rgba(0,0,0,0.075);color:#000;font-size:16px;width:100%;min-width:250px;background-color:#ffffff;border:0px;border-radius:6px;padding:0.25rem 1rem;line-height:1.42857143;margin-bottom:2px;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .icon,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top .p-icon *{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ Many thanks to him. .fAmXvR{background:#f3f3f3;border-radius:6px;color:#444444;font-family:"proxima-nova","open Sans","Helvetica","Arial",sans-serif;font-weight:500;padding:16px 16px 24px;}/*!sc*/ The SPORTS REFERENCE and STATHEAD trademarks are owned exclusively by Sports Reference LLC. @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-club],.mHQYb header.mlb-header[data-is-microsite]{background-image:linear-gradient(#002867 50%,#081c3b 50%);}.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-top__nav-items{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;}}/*!sc*/ 2004 Sim Season. .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button.locale,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__button.search{display:none;}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__subnav--teams__team--name{display:none;}/*!sc*/ 17,815th in major league history) #Pujols700 pic.twitter.com/yxovJsBhDA. .cwEpxl{height:100%;width:100%;border:transparent;background:none;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:0.2s;transition:0.2s;padding:0px;}/*!sc*/ January 16, 1980 .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item__link .icon__nav-item{margin-right:5px;width:10px;height:15px;-webkit-flex-shrink:0;-ms-flex-negative:0;flex-shrink:0;}/*!sc*/ Even as Pujols is just 11 home runs behind Babe Ruth for third place on the all-time home runs list, he did not play baseball to "break records." . Jim Thome is the only other primary infielder with 600 career home runs. .blUWSx .share-list{position:absolute;list-style:none;margin:0;margin-left:2px;padding:0;margin-top:3px;margin-right:10px;}/*!sc*/ body.side-nav-open{max-height:100vh;overflow:hidden;overscroll-behavior:none;touch-action:none;position:fixed;top:0;width:100vw;}/*!sc*/ Javascript is required for the selection of a player. Data Provided By Detwiler was the 450th different pitcher Pujols has taken deep in his career, breaking the record held by Barry Bonds. A natural baseball player. THE MACHINE https://t.co/oiAO1Fxjlc, HE DID IT!!!! @media (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header.mlb-header--side-nav-open .header__nav-side{display:none;}}/*!sc*/ Fantasy baseball: Which prospects have fantasy value in 2023? General. Pujols launched a pitch from Brandon Hughes out of the ballpark for his 695th career home run. @media (min-width:768px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__secondary-logos{-webkit-flex-basis:75%;-ms-flex-preferred-size:75%;flex-basis:75%;}}/*!sc*/ Subscribe to Stathead Baseball: Get your first month FREEYour All-Access Ticket to the Baseball Reference Database. .kwDmpG input{box-sizing:border-box;margin-bottom:16px;}/*!sc*/ Pujols currently sits in fourth on the all-time home run leaderboard. @font-face{font-family:'proxima-nova';src:url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-extrabold.woff2') format('woff2'),url('https://www.mlbstatic.com/mlb.com/fonts/proxima-nova-extrabold.woff') format('woff');font-style:normal;font-weight:800;font-display:fallback;}/*!sc*/ .hspSPq:hover svg{fill:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ .eJdqRG a:hover{color:#0048AB;}/*!sc*/ @media screen and (min-width:1024px){.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner:hover a,.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner:hover span{color:#ffffff;}.mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-side__nav-item--inner:hover .p-icon *{fill:#ffffff;}}/*!sc*/ .mHQYb header.mlb-header .header__nav-top__nav-item--spotlight .header__nav-top__nav-item__text{color:#ffffff;}/*!sc*/ \n","providerName":"Twitter","providerUrl":"https://twitter.com","type":"rich","width":550},"type":"oembed"},{"__typename":"Markdown","content":"Pujols has 57 home runs against the Pirates, his third most against any team behind only the Astros (62) and Cubs (59). main{display:block;}/*!sc*/ *{box-sizing:border-box;}/*!sc*/ data-styled.g21[id="imagestyle__Img-sc-xw1tzz-1"]{content:"ebrWqN,iQELft,"}/*!sc*/ This past September, he joined Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron and Babe Ruth as the only players to hit 700 home runs. .mHQYb .p-search-item__image{display:-webkit-box;display:-webkit-flex;display:-ms-flexbox;display:flex;margin-right:0.5rem;-webkit-align-items:center;-webkit-box-align:center;-ms-flex-align:center;align-items:center;width:55px;}/*!sc*/ Albert Pujols hit his 700th career home run off Dodgers pitcher Phil Bickford on Friday night, becoming just the fourth player in league history to do so. Albert Pujols just keeps mashing and moving up in baseball history. data-styled.g162[id="Styles__NewsletterOptinContainer-sc-10yslsy-0"]{content:"sczZi,"}/*!sc*/ What's the Dodgers' plan at shortstop? He hit three in July, eight in August and seven more in September. 693 in the team's. Pujols tied Alex Rodriguez for fourth on the all-time home run list Saturday against the Pirates. extra innings (15). data-styled.g158[id="newsletterOptinstyle__Message-sc-d7sh2p-3"]{content:"evwvnJ,"}/*!sc*/