Hunt and Peck

Albert Pujols’s return to St. Louis was everything we hoped it would be - A Hunt and Peck

Beautiful closure.

By lil_scooter93 Jun 26, 2019, 1:00pm EDT

MLB: Los Angeles Angels at St. Louis Cardinals

In the summer of 2009 The Hangover hit the box office. It was an immediate success. The film made over $467 million and became the highest-grossing R-rated comedy of all time. It received high praise from critics as well; Roger Ebert gave it 3.5 of 4 stars. It won a Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. From its release in 2009, people have been quoting jokes from it. People loved this movie — they stanned it, to borrow a term from the youths. For years I hadn’t seen it and people were shocked. It is so funny they would tell me, You will love it. Finally I sat down to watch it, excited from all the hype.

It was... fine.

It could have just been me. Maybe I never would have loved it, but honestly, I think people oversold it to the point there was no way it could have lived up to it. It was just a movie, after all.

I tell you all that because it is relevant to Albert Pujols’s return to St. Louis. Since he left for Los Angeles in 2011, Cardinals fans have been waiting for this day, champing at the bit to see the legend in Busch Stadium again. After seven seasons the 2019 schedule was announced and finally the Angels would visit the 3-1-4. Since that announcement media and fans alike have been preparing. The weeks leading up to the visit consisted of almost non-stop Pujols return discussion. There was almost no way the weekend would be able to live up to the level of hype. I was preparing for another Hangover.

But then it was lovely — more than lovely, it was wonderful. The Cardinals won two of three, Albert Pujols started every game, and he even hit a home run in a perfect, low leverage situation. Everything just fell into place for St. Louis to shower its once absent son with gratitude. It was a weekend of closure. St. Louis never really got to say goodbye. Now, after seven seasons, we finally could.

The weekend was everything Cardinals fans had hoped for and maybe even a little bit more.

Friends forever. pic.twitter.com/C9MnqCB9uj
— MLB (@MLB) June 21, 2019

Now batting, number 5, Albert Pujols! pic.twitter.com/ODILCg6z5r
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 22, 2019

Albert Pujols in 11 seasons with the Cardinals:

2-time World Series champion
3-time NL MVP
9-time All-Star
445 HRs
86.6 WAR

Well deserved standing ovation in his return. pic.twitter.com/uk1KRgRxFp
— SportsTalkFeed (@SportsTalkFeed) June 22, 2019

Albert Pujols hit a home run at Busch Stadium and St. Louis fans were loving it

(via @MLB)pic.twitter.com/jPpN4GK8tb
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 22, 2019

Yadier Molina throwing dirt on Albert Pujols as he crosses home plate pic.twitter.com/NVIRl26sy9
— Kevin Munie (@KMunie7) June 22, 2019

A hug.

A curtain call.

Albert Pujols' last at-bat was special! pic.twitter.com/cHadTzL6CA
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 24, 2019

Albert Pujols x Yadier Molina pic.twitter.com/dnFsuMqyhn
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) June 24, 2019

Albert Pujols: "I was pretty close from dropping a couple of tears, especially when I hugged Yadi." #TimeToFly pic.twitter.com/L1x5m2dYP3
— FOX Sports Midwest (@FSMidwest) June 22, 2019

Welcome back @PujolsFive You were a great teammate, you are a great friend, and one of the greatest @Cardinals /baseball players to ever live. I don't know what the record for longest ovation is but I hope you pass that tonight
— Adam Wainwright (@UncleCharlie50) June 21, 2019

Cardinal fans never disappoint.. I get goosebumps every time @PujolsFive steps up to the plate and #CardinalsNation stands on their feet and pays tribute to one of the best to ever wear the birds on the bat..enjoying every minute of it..but we still want that sweep!
— Matt Carpenter (@MattCarp13) June 23, 2019

I really enjoyed seeing the love @PujolsFive received. What an amazing fan base and team @Cardinals
— Dexter Fowler (@DexterFowler) June 22, 2019

11 seasons. Countless memories. Thanks for giving us a front row seat! pic.twitter.com/xMcZTHS8mr
— St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) June 22, 2019

what else is going on in baseball...

Albert Pujols, Angels win finale in St. Louis | MLB.com

Will Smith hits walk-off homer for Dodgers | MLB.com

Mariano Rivera hits inside-the-park home run | MLB.com

Reasons to vote for each All-Star Game finalist | MLB.com

MLB Rumors, Trades, and Signings | MLB.com

Edgar: An Autobiography is Yet Another Hit for Martinez | FanGraphs Baseball

José Ramírez Isn’t That Far Off | FanGraphs Baseball

"The Pujols' have created an entire community for people, for families, with Down Syndrome. And now, I don't think you could stop it."

On the off-the-field legacy Albert Pujols left behind in St. Louis, as told by those most impacted by it: https://t.co/JnAUkuRLzd
— Jenifer Langosch (@LangoschMLB) June 21, 2019