Albert Pujols finally homered against all 30 MLB teams

Albert Pujols of the Los Angeles Angels has played in the majors for nearly 16 years. And in that time, he had hit home runs against 29 teams. There was just one team missing — until Thursday night.

The Angels were playing the St. Louis Cardinals in Los Angeles, and they were down 12-8. Pujols stepped to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning with a runner on first, and took a mighty swing at a 1-1 offering from Cardinals pitcher Seth Maness. The bat connected and drove the ball toward left center field where Cardinals centerfielder Randall Grichuk began running after it. Grichuk almost had it — it even looks like he got a little leather on it — but the ball cleared the wall and Pujols had his homer.

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Of course, it makes perfect sense that the Cardinals were Pujols’ last homer-less team. He played for them for 11 years, which made it impossible for him to smash a dinger against them during that time. And even though it’s been four years since he joined the Angles, they’re in the American League and they don’t normally play games against the Cards.

There are eight other active players who have hit home runs against all 30 clubs.

The other eight to homer against all 30 teams: Bautista, Beltran, Beltre, Drew, Gonzalez, Martin, Moss, McCann.

— Alden Gonzalez (@Alden_Gonzalez) May 13, 2016

Before Pujols, the last guy to join that list was Brandon Moss, who hit a homer against the Braves on April 10th to complete the 30-team cycle.

Pujols is also quickly approaching several big names on the career home run list. He has 567 career home runs, and he’s just two shy of tying Rafael Palmeiro for 12th all-time. Six more and he ties Harmon Killebrew (573 home runs) at 11th. Ten and nine on the list are Mark McGwire with 583 and Frank Robinson with 586. If Pujols hits 20 more homers this season, he’ll have sole possession of ninth place on the all-time home run list. Considering that he hit 40 last season, that’s a mark he can definitely meet (barring injury, of course).

Eighth on the all-time home run list is Sammy Sosa with 609. Pujols will probably need another season to get there, but he has five years left on his contract with the Angels, so he’s got time.

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