When Albert Pujols rejected an offer from the St. Louis Cardinals and left for the greener pastures of Los Angeles, fans across the region were divided. To put it mildly.
Many were just plain mad at the three-time MVP who helped the Cardinals to two World Series titles. They ditched or even burned beloved Pujols jerseys. After all, he was supposed to stay a lifelong Cardinal and get a statue in front of Busch Stadium.
Fast forward to the 2019 season: Pujols, a Los Angeles Angel since 2012, hasn’t played at Busch in eight seasons. Until Friday.
Waiting in line for “First Pitch Tickets” outside the ballpark around 8:30 a.m., Daniel Kempen, 50, of St. Louis said Pujols’ decision to leave was anything but spiteful.
“If anybody would boo him, they would be ignorant,” Kempen said. “That was business.”
Now a 39-year-old DH, Pujols is noticeably removed from his All-Star years, Kempen noted. He said Pujols’ move to LA was “best for everybody,” and he has nothing but love for the player.
“It’s not like he just took the money and ran,” Kempen said. “I hope he cracks one right out of the park.”
And will he be cheering as Pujols makes his long-awaited return?
“I’ll probably be crying. Absolutely,” Kempen said.
A St. Louisan for 12 years, Ryan Davis, 37, waited in the same line of over 100 fans. He said Pujols is “one of the best Cardinals of all time,” and he’ll be among the people cheering.
Some fans were excited enough for Pujols’ return to drive down from Chicago.
“It’s worth the trip, for sure,” Chicago native Brandon Ash, 36, said from his lawn chair near the front of the line.
He said he remembers watching Pujols play briefly in the minor leagues in 2000 and has been a huge fan ever since. Though he said Pujols’ decision to leave was “heartbreaking,” he added it only took a season or two for him to forgive and forget.
“It’s good to have this reuniting tonight,” Ash said. “I’ve been waiting a long time.”
His wife, Claire Ash, 29, of Chicago said she will be wearing her husband’s Pujols jersey for Friday’s game.
“It’s, like, three sizes too big, but I’m wearing it,” Claire Ash said.
Mike McGroarty, 54, of St. Louis came to wait in line at 6 a.m. on his birthday.
“Whatever happened back in 2011, I think it’s pretty much water under the bridge,” McGroarty said.
Though he won’t be cheering for the Angels any time Friday, he said Pujols deserves a thank you from St. Louis.
“It’s way too long of a wait,” McGroarty said. “It should’ve happened sooner.”
Chrissy Ortman, 54, of St. Louis said when Pujols signed with the Angels, she was angry.
“When he left, I thought he was greedy,” Ortman said. But the passing years “kind of healed the wounds.”
Though she thinks Pujols might’ve been booed if he returned sooner, she said the work he’s done for the community through his Pujols Family Foundation and baseball is more than enough to get a pass.
Cheering? You betcha.
“He will get a standing O from me,” Ortman said.
This article was originally published by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Comentários