You would think the most important thing for a future Hall of Fame baseball player is the game itself. But not so according to Albert Pujols. Pujols says the Hall of Fame is not his ultimate destination. The long-time all-star for both the St. Louis Cardinals and later the Los Angeles Angels is a person of great faith who says his primary focus in life is serving Jesus Christ. Pujols says baseball, while very important to him, has been the means by which he could serve others.
In 2005, Pujols and his wife, Deidre, started the Pujols Family Foundation. Their mission statement is to live out their faith and share their commitment to family and others. Pujols says “others” are important to him because they are important to God. Some of the “others” touched by Pujol’s charitable efforts are children with Downs Syndrome. Albert and Diedre themselves have a daughter who has Downs. All people are children of God and all are precious in His sight, according to Pujols. Another way that others are served is through his humanitarian efforts in the Dominican Republic. Albert grew up in the “Bateys” or slums of Santo Domingo in this poor island country. He always said if he became a successful major leaguer, he would remember where he came from. In the last ten years, The Pujols Family Foundation has treated over 18,000 people in the Bateys through their medical mission teams.
As a long-time Cardinals fan, I loved watching Albert Pujols play in St. Louis and I hated it when he signed with the Angels ten years ago. I would be lying if I did not say there was some “satisfaction” that his time in LA never came close to the success he enjoyed in St. Louis. Still, I must admit some sadness when I heard the news a few days ago that Pujols was designated for assignment with the Angels. That means if he isn’t picked up by another team or traded by the Angels in the next ten days he will be released by the team. Even the greatest players finally reach a day where their skills are no longer what they once were. Pujols has hit 667 home runs, fifth most in major league history, and driven in over 2,100 runs, good for third place on the all-time list. He is also 41 and his batting average has dipped below .200 this season. He might find a home somewhere else in the league and play a little longer or he might be finished. But whatever happens, Pujols understands baseball was never his chief ambition in life and the Hall of Fame was never his final destination. It’s all about understanding that serving and loving God and others is really the hill we climb in life.
– Rev. Dave Poteet, Pastor of Congregational Care
