The Race to 700

Aug 23

As of August 28, Albert Pujols is seven home runs away from baseball immortality. Hitting 700 career home runs is an exclusive club, with only three players achieving the feat. Barry Bonds, Hank Aaron, and Babe Ruth are the only players in MLB history to hit the golden number of 700. Pujols is currently chasing history, and with his offensive production as of late, he will get there in no time.

Pujols has seven home runs in his last 15 games, slugging 1.000 in that span. However, according to USA TODAY, Pujols is not chasing the feat; the feat is chasing him.

This will be Pujols' last season, no matter how close he gets to 700. "I'm still going to retire, no matter whether I end up hitting 693, 696, 700, whatever," Pujols said. "I don't get caught up in numbers. If you were going to tell me 22 years ago that I would be this close, I would have told you that you're freakin' crazy. My career has been amazing."

The offensive explosion further reiterates the greatness of Pujols continuing to produce in his 22nd season and is the perfect send-off for one of the greatest right-hand hitters in baseball history.

The career accolades for Pujols are jaw-dropping. Three-time MVP, a two-time champion, 11-time All-Star, winner of six Silver Sluggers, and the 2001 NL Rookie of the Year. Pujols had a historic run in St.Louis with nine All-Star selections in 11 seasons with the Cardinals.

After winning the 2011 World Series, Pujols left for Anaheim in the offseason for a mouth-watering 10-year, $240 million contract. However, his stay with the Angels was lackluster, with a .256 average and an OPS+ of 108 in 10 seasons. One could only imagine what Pujols' numbers could've looked like if he had stayed in St.Louis.

Many attribute the sudden change of scenery to Pujols's disappointing time in Anaheim. Changing to another league and playing on the west coast could've been difficult for Pujols. Nonetheless, Pujols is still close to history, further cementing his case for becoming a first-ballot Hall of Famer.

The numbers tell the story as Pujols passed Stan Musial for No. 2 on the all-time total bases list. And with his 693rd career home run, Pujols made more history. The home run became the 449th different pitcher Pujols has homered against, tying Bonds for most all-time. To put it into perspective, Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero and Astros great Jeff Bagwell both have 449 career home runs.

All we can do is sit back and watch how close Pujols gets with 35 games left in the regular season for the Cardinals.