Albert Pujols - Accomplishments

Accomplishments

Through 2012, Pujols ranked in the top 10 players in major league history in three statistical categories: slugging percentage (fifth), on-base plus slugging (OPS; sixth), and OPS+ (tied for ninth with Ty Cobb). At the end of the 2012 season, he led all active players in batting average (.325), slugging percentage (.608), and OPS (1.022). Through 2012, he ranked among the top 10 active players in doubles (ninth), home runs (fourth, behind Rodriguez, Thome, and Manny Ramirez), RBIs (sixth), and runs scored (ninth). In the field, Pujols has a .994 fielding percentage at first base (through 2012), and he set the major league single-season record for assists with 185 in 2009.

Pujols is in the top 10 in several Cardinals' statistics. He is second to Musial in doubles (455), home runs (445), and RBIs (1,329). He is seventh in games (1,705), seventh in batting average (.328), third in runs scored (1,291, behind Musial and Lou Brock), and fourth in hits (2,073, behind Musial, Brock and Hornsby). He also is in the top 10 in several single-season Cardinals' records. His 137 runs scored in 2003 are tied for seventh with Tommy McCarthy, his 51 doubles in 2003 and 2004 are tied with Musial for sixth, he holds five of the top 10 Cardinals' home run totals, and his 137 RBIs in 2006 are tied for seventh with Jim Bottomley, Johnny Mize, and Joe Torre.

Pujols has earned praise from many of his fellow players and coaches. In 2008, he was named the most feared hitter in baseball in a poll of all 30 MLB managers. La Russa has called him "the best player I've ever managed." Votto referred to him as "one of the greatest hitters of all time." Larry Walker called him "a great hitter," and Brendan Ryan said, "He's the best there is." Fernando Viña said, while Pujols was with the Cardinals, "He's the face of the Cardinals."

Pujols has said he does not play solely for the numbers. "I don't play for numbers. I play first of all to glorify God and to accomplish in this game what everybody wants to accomplish, which is getting to the World Series and coming up with a win at the end. Those are the things that I really try to focus on and try to make sure that I do every day for the rest of my career."