Up For Grabs Cardinalpalooza: Albert Pujols

Previously on the Cardinalpalooza: Ray Lankford | Mark McGwire | J.D. Drew | Colby Rasmus | Yadier Molina | Allen Craig | Stan Musial | Rick Ankiel | David Freese | Keith Hernandez | Steve Carlton | Lance Berkman

What can you say about Albert Pujols? For 11 glorious seasons, the man was an unstoppable baseball killing machine, arriving on the scene as a rookie that was more polished offensively than most All-Stars. Only a .299 batting average (and his subsequent years with the Angels) ruined the back of what would have been a perfect baseball card. It was like Albert had all the cheat codes while everyone else was playing with the difficulty switch set to "hard". If you want some Pujols cards, I have plenty of extras - just check the list at the end of the post.

Albert's worst St. Louis season was probably his last, where he only drove in 99 runs and had a .906 OPS. No Cardinal on the 2013 World Series roster drove in as many as 99 runs or had an OPS as high as Albert's worst year, let alone sniffed the 32 HRs Pujols hit in his worst Cardinal power year (2007).

After being shuffled around the field early in his career, Pujols even became an excellent defensive first baseman before foot injuries began to rob him of his range. As great as Yadier Molina is behind the plate, he's never been able to pick players off of 1st like he did when Pujols was around.

There was much teeth gnashing surround Albert's departure for Anaheim in 2012. Due to the unfortunately decline in his health, the Cardinals have been much better off without the big Pujols contract. But there is nowhere in baseball he would have been more popular than if he had remained in the Gateway City, and that fact alone has probably dipped his standing a bit as one of the game's greats. He may no longer be an unstoppable killing machine, but Cardinals fans will always have those 11 spectacular seasons.

Oh yes, and those 2 World Series rings. And that sweet, sweet Game 3.

The list:

2002 Upper Deck MVP #166
2003 Fleer Doubleheader #129
2003 Upper Deck SP Authentic #54
2003 Upper Deck Victory #87
2003 Upper Deck Victory (Solid Hits) #101
2003 Upper Deck Victory Green #87
2004 Donruss Diamond Kings #27
2004 Fleer Classic Clippings #17
2005 Donruss Throwback Threads #105
2005 Fleer Patchworks #49
2005 Fleer Tradition (NL Home Run Leaders w/ Adrian Beltre and Adam Dunn) #10
2006 Topps #200
2006 Topps (League MVP) #263 [3 available]
2007 Fleer Ultra Retail #147
2007 Topps #130
2007 Topps (Gold Glove Award) #308 [5 4 available]
2007 Topps Stars #TS6
2007 Upper Deck Goudey Green Back #6
2007 Upper Deck MLB Artifacts #66
2008 Topps Target T205 #TCP1
2008 Upper Deck Baseball Heroes #156
2008 Upper Deck First Edition Starquest #SQ-32
2008 Upper Deck National Baseball Card Day #UD11
2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic #3
2008 Upper Deck SP Authentic Authentic Achievements #AA-38
2008 Upper Deck Spectrum #87
2008 Upper Deck Timeline #300
2008 Upper Deck X #91 [2 available]
2009 Bowman #2
2009 Topps (NL MVP) #217
2009 Topps Update (All-Star) #UH48 [2 available]
2009 Topps Update (Home Run Derby) #UH300
2009 Topps Ticket to ToppsTown  #TTT13
2009 Topps Unique #100
2009 Upper Deck Icons #5
2009 Upper Deck X #84
2010 Bowman Gold #185
2010 Topps #100 [3 available]
2010 Topps (League Leaders w/ Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval) #4
2010 Topps (League Leaders w/ Prince Fielder and Ryan Howard) #42
2010 Topps (League Leaders w/ Prince Fielder and Ryan Howard) #206
2010 Topps (NL MVP) #327
2010 Topps Update (All-Star) #US-200 [2 available]
2010 Topps Ticket to ToppsTown #TTT14 [4 available]
2010 Topps Opening Day #47
2010 Topps Opening Day ToppsTown #TTS22
2010 Upper Deck #463
2011 Bowman #6
2011 Bowman Gold #6
2011 Topps (League Leaders w/ Carlos Gonzalez and Joey Votto) #138 [2 available]
2011 Topps (League Leaders w/ Adam Dunn and Joey Votto) #318 [2 available]
2011 Topps (Checklist) #547 [2 available]
2011 Topps Diamond Giveaway Code #TDG-8
2011 Topps Diamond Stars #DS-10
2011 Topps HTA Diamond Giveaway #HTA-20
2011 Topps Kimball Champions #KC-40
2011 Topps Topps 60 #T60-100
2011 Topps Chrome #150
2011 Topps Gypsy Queen #75
2011 Topps Opening Day #50
2012 Topps (League Leaders w/ Matt Kemp and Prince Fielder) #77
2012 Topps (World Series) #108 [2 available]
2012 Topps (League Leaders w/ Vladimir Guerrero and Todd Helton) #124 [3 available]
2012 Topps Golden Giveaway Code #GGC-6 [3 available]
2012 Topps Golden Greats #GG-69

[updated 11/12/13]