As a kid, I loved hanging out at the baseball park. While a college student, I supported my college’s baseball team and occasionally drove up to Atlanta to watch a Braves game. A classmate of mine from middle and high school got called up to the majors in 1994, and I followed his progress through that season – until the strike, anyway. After that, I stopped following major league baseball for a number of years, opting instead to attend the SEC tournaments, until the Sammy Sosa/Mark McGwire/Barry Bonds home run drama piqued my interest. The cloud of controversy over doping turned me off again.
It’s no wonder, then, that I rocked on for so long largely unaware of Albert Pujols. One of the best players in the game today, Pujols has been nothing if not consistent during his ten years playing for the St. Louis Cardinals. His achievements in baseball are phenomenal. But what sets Pujols apart from other baseball greats isn’t his athletic ability – it’s his heart.
When Pujols was still a teenager, he married his wife, Deidre, and instantly became the father to her young daughter, Isabella, from a prior relationship. If that wasn’t evidence enough of his generous spirit, add in the fact that Isabella has Down syndrome – not a tragedy, by any means, but a scary proposition for most young men his age.
Fast forward to 2005: Albert and Deidre Pujols started the Pujols Family Foundation, which seeks “to help those living with Down syndrome here at home and to improve the lives of the impoverished in the Dominican Republic”, Albert’s birthplace. Their tagline: Faith. Family. Others.
Pujols is a committed Christian, a philanthropist, and, in an era where sports figures engage in outrageous behavior as a matter of course, he’s a breath of fresh air. Pujols is an outstanding example of an individual who is using his God-given gifts to make a tremendous positive impact on society.
Albert Pujols makes me want to start following baseball again – the Cardinals, anyway – or at least take a little trip to St. Louis sometime. Who wants to join me?
For more information, visit the Pujols Family Foundation website, and be sure to take a few minutes to watch the 60 Minutes feature on Albert (link below).
Being from Missouri, I had always heard about how great Pujols was as a baseball player, but I didn’t realize how much he does outside baseball until I watched the 60 Minutes segment. He is truly inspiring and it makes him an even better role model for children to lookup to.
I am an avid baseball fan, and knew all about AP and his story – these should be the headlines that make news, not the negative stories that always get top billing. There are many more just like AP who quietly go about making this world a better place.
I agree! And if he wasn’t one of the greats, he probably wouldn’t be recognized now, sadly.
I’ve been following your blog frequently and noticed that it’s time to begin viewing Bringing the Sunshine. This post sparked my interest being from St. Louis and of course a dedicated Cardinal fan. If your family would like to make the trip to the STL you are welcome to stay at my house as there is plenty of room.
Our family loves Pujols and all he stands for…faith, family, others. We had always been fans of his but especially after our son Joshua was born in 2006. Josh has Ds. We live close enough to St. Louis to take part in the Pujols Family Foundation events. It is our hope that he will remian in St. Louis for a long time…but he will always have a place in our hearts regardless of where he might play baseball!
I wish we were close enough! One day we may have to take a trip St. Louis just to see Pujols!