Albert Pujols Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life

Albert Pujols Biography Facts, Childhood, Net Worth, Life
Albert Pujols – Biography, Childhood, Career, Accomplishments & Awards. (Image credit: si.com)

Albert Pujols is a Dominican-American baseball player who plays in the Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels. Pujols is one of the most successful baseball players currently playing in the MLB. An astute baseman and a talented hitter, Pujols is indeed a brilliant and incredible baseball player. In his MLB career which has spanned close to two decades, Pujols has emerged as one of the very best in the MLB. The three-time MLB MVP winner and 10-times All-star honouree are considered a veteran in the MLB who continues to stay atop despite competition from younger acts. We review his rise to the fore of baseball in the MLB in this Albert Pujols biography facts, childhood, net worth and personal life. 

Albert Pujols Biography Facts, Age, Info

  • Full Name: José Alberto Pujols Alcántara
  • Nickname: Prince Albert, The Machine, The Mang, MV3, El Hombre
  • Born: January 16, 1980
  • Age: 44 years old
  • Place of Birth: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
  • Nationality: Domingo
  • Occupation: Baseball Player
  • League: MLB
  • MBL Debut: St. Louis Cardinals (April 2, 2001)
  • Current Team: Los Angeles Angels
  • Position: First baseman
  • Jersey Number: #5
  • Bats: Right-handed
  • Throws: Right
  • Net Worth: $110 million
  • Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91m)
  • Weight: 109 kg (240 Ibs)
  • Education: Fort Osage High School; Florida International University, Metropolitan Community College – Maple Woods
  • Parents: Bienvenido Pujols (father)
  • Children: Ezra Pujols (son), Isabella Pujols (daughter), Sophia Pujols (daughter), Albert Pujols, Jr. (son), Esther Grace Pujols (daughter)
  • Wife: Deidre Pujols (married 2000)
  • Zodiac Sign: Capricorn

Albert Pujols Childhood/Early Life & Family Background

Pujols was born in the Dominican Republic and was raised by his paternal grandmother, with the assistance of his 10 aunts and uncles. Pujols is the only child of his alcoholic father, who played softball. While he was young, Pujols was interested in baseball and often practised with a lime and a milk carton. In 1996, Albert’s grandmother and his father, as well as Albert, moved to the New York, but later relocated to Missouri, after witnessing a shootout.

Albert Pujols High School & College Baseball Career

In Missouri, Pujols attended Fort Osage High School where he played Baseball. In high school, there were doubts about Pujols being younger than 18. He was a good baseball player which earned him All-State athlete. After high school, Pujols attended Maple Woods Community College on a baseball scholarship. He played college baseball for just one season. In the first game of the season, he had a grand slam. Throughout the season, he played in the shortstop position and recorded 22 home runs and a batting average of  .462.

Albert Pujols Minor League Career

Due to uncertainty regarding his age, Pujols found it difficult for MLB team to draft him. In the 13th round of the 1999 MLB Draft, he was picked by the  St. Louis Cardinals as its 402nd pick. He then went on to play in the single-A Midwest League in 2000, for the Peoria Chiefs. He played in the third baseman position and had a batting average of .324 and 17 home runs in 109 games. After having the second-highest batting average, he was named the league’s MVP and earned a place in the All-star team. He also played in the high-A Carolina League for the Potomac Cannons. He had a batting average of .284 and 2 home runs in 21 games.

He rounded off his 2000 season, by playing in the  AAA Pacific Coast League (PCL), for the Memphis Redbirds. He put up an impressive performance in the playoffs which earned him the postseason MVP and also led his side to win their first Pacific Coast League title. 

Albert Pujols MLB Career & Achievements

St. Louis Cardinals (2001–2011)

Following his impressive performance in the 2000 season, Pujols was given a place in the Cardinals first team. He began the 2001 season by playing in the first game of the season against the Colorado Rockies. He earned All-star honour in his first season in the MLB. After registering 37 home runs, the highest for a Cardinals player in the season, he won the third baseman  Silver Slugger Award in the National League. Pujols also finished fourth in the NL MVP and was named NL Rookie of the Year. They progressed to the NL Divisional Series where they lost to the Diamondbacks.

His top form continued in the 2002 season, where he batted .314 and had 37 home runs. He then became the first Cardinals player to finish in the top four of the NL MVP for two successive seasons, after he finished in second place in the 2002 NL MVP voting. After defeating the Diamondbacks in the Divisional Series, the Cardinals lost to the San Francisco Giants in the Championship Series.

In the 2003 season, Pujols earned the most votes for an NL player named to the All-star game. He also emerged the National League Batting champion, after he had a batting average of .359. Despite tremendous expectations from fans, Pujols emerged second in the MVP, but won the Silver Slugger Award and was named Sporting News Player of the Year. The Cardinals did not make it to the playoffs in the 2003 season. In February 2004, his fine form in the MLB was rewarded with a seven-year contract extension worth $100 million.

Pujols was in top form as always in the 2004 season. He batted .331 in the season and had the second-highest home runs in the league with 46. After finishing third in the NL MVP, Pujols won the NL first baseman Silver Slugger Award. Other Cardinals player, namely, Rolems and Edmonds, had a phenomenal season and Pujols with these players were nicknamed ‘MV3’ by fans. The Cardinals progressed to the Championship Series which they won. Pujols received the Championship Series MVP. In the World Series, the St. Louis Cardinals lost to the Boston Red Sox.

In the 2005 season, he played in 161 games and had a batting average of .330, the second-highest in the league and 41 home runs. After several close calls, he won his first NL MVP award. In the playoffs, the Cardinals were eliminated by the Houston Astros in the Championship Series.  His 2006 season was nothing short of the incredible gameplay he is known for. He had 49 home runs and .331 batting average. He finished second in the MVP voting and the first base Gold Glove Award in the NL. 

He also won the Fielding Bible Award. After claiming their third consecutive NL Central title, the Cardinals went on to the playoffs, where they progressed to the World Series. In the World Series, the defeated the Detroit Tigers. Pujols thus claimed his first World Series ring. In the 2007 season, Pujols had a batting average of .327 and 32 home runs. He ended his season by finishing in ninth place in the MVP, the first time, he’ll finish outside the top five. His form improved in the 2008 season. He had .357 batting average and 37 home runs in 148 games. He then went on to win the NL MVP and Silver Slugger award for the second time. He also received his second Sporting News Player of the Year award. Pujols was honoured with the Roberto Clemente Award and had nerve transposition surgery in his right elbow. 

In the 2009 season, Pujols performance was top notched. He claimed the NL MVP and the Silver Slugger award. He was also honoured with the Sporting News Player of the Year and Fielding Bible awards. His 2010 season was also phenomenal as he had .312 batting average and topped the NL in home runs with 42 home runs. He was thus awarded the first base Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards. He finished in second place in the NL MVP.

He struggled in the first 30 games of the 2011 season, but he returned in top form and ended his regular season by finishing in fifth place in the NL MVP. In the playoffs, the Cardinals were in amazing form as they went on to defeat the Texas Rangers in the World Series. After the 2011 season, Pujols became a free agent as he did not agree to a contract extension with the Cardinals.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim / Los Angeles Angels (2012–date)

Pujols previously had rejected a 10-year deal worth $210 million offered by the Cardinals. He also rejected a 10-year offer by the Miami Marlins, before he signed a 10-year deal worth $254 million with the Los Angeles Angels. His 2012 season with the Angels began on a slow note. But after the addition of a new prospect to the team and the replacement of the hitting coach, his performance improved. He had .285 batting average and 30 home runs in his debut season with the Angels.

Pujols 2013 season was cut short as a result of an injury he sustained in August 2013. He played in 99 games and had 17 home runs and a batting average of .253. Jack Clark, a former Cardinals player and hitting coach, said in a radio interview that Pujols used Performance Enhancing Drugs (PED), an allegation, Pujols denied. In October 2013, he filed a defamation suit against Clark, who later apologized after insisting that Pujols take a polygraph test. After his apology, Pujols dropped the lawsuit. In the 2014 season, he recorded his 500th career home run. He had an amazing 2014 season. After the conclusion of the season, he joined the MLB All-Stars in a game against the Japanese Nippon Professional Baseball All-stars.

In the 2015 season, he earned his first AL Player of the Month honour. He also was named to the AL All-star as a reserve. He had more than 40 home runs in the season. Pujols continued in great form throughout the 2016 and 2017 seasons. In September 2018, he had surgery as a result of a bone spur. In the 2019 season, Pujols was the third oldest baseball player in the American League. He had a batting average of .244 in the 2019 season. 

Albert Pujols Net Worth, Salary & Endorsement

Pujols has a total net worth which is estimated at $110 million. As at 2019, he received an annual salary valued at $27.3 million. He has an endorsement deal with Nike.

Albert Pujols Personal Life & Trivia

Albert Pujols is married to Deidre Pujols. The couple has five children. Isabella, Deidre Pujols daughter from her previous relationship has down syndrome.

Pujols and his wife are supporters of down syndrome. He owns the Pujols Family Foundation which promotes down syndrome.

Pujols who became a US citizen in 2007 has a restaurant named the Pujols 5 Westport Grill and also owns the Albert Pujols Wellness Center for Adults, located in Missouri.

Pujols is a Christian.

SEE MORE: Biography facts and profile of famous Baseball/MLB stars.


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