Pujols becomes 1st player with 650 career HRs, doubles
Albert Pujols continues to make history in the twilight of his Hall of Fame career.
The Los Angeles Angels slugger joined rarefied company Sunday, notching his 650th career home run - a two-run shot off Dylan Bundy - in the sixth inning of his team's home game against the Baltimore Orioles.
(Courtesy: MLB.com)
He's the sixth player in MLB history to hit 650 round-trippers, joining Willie Mays, Alex Rodriguez, Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron, and home-run king Barry Bonds.
The blast also helped Pujols establish a new club, as he's the first player ever to have at least 650 career home runs and doubles, according to Stats By Stats.
"I think there are 20,000-plus players that have come through this game, and to be able to be the only one to do that, it's just pretty special," he said after the game, according to The Associated Press.
Pujols recorded his 650th two-bagger July 7 in Houston and has since added three more to his career total. He's one of just eight members of the 650-double club and could potentially pass Nap Lajoie (657) for seventh on the all-time list by season's end.
Though no longer the MVP-caliber hitter he was with the St. Louis Cardinals, the 39-year-old is enjoying one of his finer seasons in an Angels uniform. Pujols is hitting .244/.303/.453 - his best line since 2016 - along with 17 homers, 14 doubles, and 62 RBIs in 83 games this season.
He also became one of the few players to have 2,000 career RBIs earlier this year.