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NO STAT IS SAFE. NO ERA IS FORGOTTEN.
VOL. 1, NO. 43 · DECEMBER 21, 2026 · EVERY MONDAY
ISSUE #043 · MODERN
Albert Pujols — The Most
Consistent Power Hitter In
History
On September 23, 2022, Albert Pujols hit career home run #700 at Busch Stadium in his final MLB season —
📅 THIS DATE IN
BASEBALL becoming the 4th member of the 700 HR club.
THE STAT THAT SHOULDN'T EXIST 01
HE HIT 30 OR MORE HOME RUNS EVERY SINGLE SEASON FOR HIS FIRST 12 YEARS IN THE MAJOR LEAGUES.
700 HR. 30+ HR In First 12 Seasons. .308 Career
Average. The Numbers Almost Don't Look Real.
ALBERT PUJOLS CAREER HR CONSECUTIVE 30+ HR SEASONS CAREER BA
CAREER RBI FIRST CAREER OPS+ GOLD GLOVES AT 1B
Pujols hit 700 career HR — only the 4th player in history to reach that mark. He hit 30+ HR in each of his
first 12 seasons (2001-2012). His .308 career average puts him in the conversation for the greatest right-
handed hitter of the modern era. He drove in 2,218 career RBI — second only to Hank Aaron's all-time
record.
THE GAME YOU FORGOT 02
VS Colorado Rockies SEPTEMBER 23, 2022
42 4th 2,201 W
HOME RUN # AGE INNING CAREER RBI AT TIME RESULT
HR #700 AT AGE 42 — THE 4TH MEMBER OF THE 700 CLUB
Pujols hit career home run #700 on September 23, 2022 — his final season, at age 42, returning to St. Louis
after 11 years. He hit it in the 4th inning at Busch Stadium before a standing-room crowd. He raised his fist
rounding the bases. He was the 4th player in history to reach 700 — after Bonds (762), Aaron (755), and Ruth
(714). His 22-year career ended where it began.
ERA VS ERA 03
Greatest First Baseman In Baseball History?
ALBERT PUJOLS LOU GEHRIG
CAREER HR CAREER OPS+
700 — 4th all-time 179 — 3rd all-time
CAREER RBI VS CAREER BA
2,218 — 2nd all-time .340
FIRST 12 SEASONS 2,130 CONSECUTIVE GAMES
30+ HR every year Iron Man streak
Pujols has the statistical volume. Gehrig has the peak rate and historical context. Pujols hit 700 HR in 22
seasons. Gehrig hit .340 with an OPS+ of 179 and lost career years to ALS. The honest answer: Pujols had the
greater career by counting stats. Gehrig was the more dominant hitter by rate stats.
Greatest first baseman in baseball history?
ALBERT PUJOLS — 700 HR, 2,218 RBI LOU GEHRIG — .340 BA, 179 OPS+ JIMMIE FOXX — .325 BA, 534 HR
JEFF BAGWELL — ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRATED EVER
THE COLDEST MOMENT 04
OCTOBER 22, 2011 · ARLINGTON · WORLD SERIES GAME 3
He Hit 3 Home Runs In The 2011 World Series Game
3 And Nobody Talks About It.
Pujols went 5-for-6 with 3 HR and 6 RBI in Game 3 of the 2011 World Series against the Rangers
— one of the most dominant individual World Series performances in history. He joined Babe
Ruth and Reggie Jackson as the only players to hit 3 HR in a single World Series game. The
Cardinals won the series in 7 games. Pujols's Game 3 is mentioned approximately never.
I play to win. The numbers are what they are.
— ALBERT PUJOLS
THE STAT VAULT 05
CAREER RBI
CAREER HOME RUNS
700 2,218 Second all-time behind Hank Aaron
4th player in history: Bonds (762), Aaron
(2,297). He drove in runs for 22
(755), Ruth (714), Pujols (700).
consecutive seasons.
CONSECUTIVE 30+ HR SEASONS CAREER OPS+ FIRST 11 SEASONS
The first 12 years of his career, without He was historically elite through age 32
exception. before declining sharply.
2022 FINAL SEASON — RETURNED TO ST. LOUIS
He hit HR #700 at Busch Stadium in his final year. The circle closed.
THE FORGOTTEN MAN 06
OVERLOOKED · UNDERRATED · DESERVES MORE
Jim Edmonds
ST. LOUIS CARDINALS · 1993-2010
.284 BA · 393 HR · 8 GOLD GLOVES
Eight Gold Gloves. Four Times He Made The Catch Of The Year. .284 Career BA.
Nobody Discusses Him.
Jim Edmonds won 8 Gold Gloves in center field and hit 393 HR with a .284 career average — playing most
of his prime years as Pujols's center fielder in St. Louis. He made acrobatic catches that are still discussed
by Cardinals fans but never by anyone else. He's borderline HOF and rarely on any list.
THE CONNECTION:
Pujols hit 700 HR. Edmonds hit 393 HR from center field while winning 8 Gold Gloves. Same lineup,
same championship teams, completely different levels of historical recognition.
COMING NEXT MONDAY
Next Monday: Mike Trout has the highest WAR of any player in baseball history through his age-29 season.
Injuries changed everything.
Who's Your Forgotten Man?
Reply with a player from any era who deserves more credit. Best answer gets featured next Monday.
All Eras. All Stats. No Debate.
Every Monday. No exceptions.