When people talk about greatness in St. Louis Cardinals history, the name that almost always rises to the top is Albert Pujols. And the stat you’re pointing out perfectly captures just how extraordinary his career was.
Even in what many considered his “worst” offensive season with the Cardinals, Pujols still posted an OPS that surpassed every season he had during his 10 years away from St. Louis. 🤯
That’s an incredible illustration of how dominant he was during his prime in a Cardinals uniform.
Why That Stat Is So Wild
OPS (On-base Plus Slugging) is one of the best quick measures of a hitter’s overall offensive impact. During his first run with the Cardinals (2001–2011), Pujols wasn’t just good — he was historically elite.
With St. Louis he routinely posted OPS numbers above 1.000, something very few players sustain over multiple seasons.
During that era he:
- Won 3 MVP awards
- Made 9 All-Star teams
- Hit 445 home runs
- Led the Cardinals to two World Series championships
And perhaps most importantly, he became the defining player of an entire generation of Cardinals baseball.
Cardinals Pujols vs. The Rest of His Career
When Pujols left St. Louis and later played for teams like the Los Angeles Angels and Los Angeles Dodgers, injuries and age began to slow him down.
Yet when he returned to the Cardinals in 2022, the magic was still there. ⚾
Fans witnessed one of the greatest farewell runs in baseball history as he surged past 700 career home runs, cementing his place among legends.
A Legacy That Still Feels Unreal
For Cardinals fans, Pujols wasn’t just a star — he was the standard.
The consistency…
The clutch moments…
The dominance year after year…
Few players in baseball history have matched what Albert Pujols did in St. Louis.
And stats like the one you mentioned are reminders of a simple truth:
Even “average” Pujols with the Cardinals was still better than most players at their absolute peak. ⚾🔥