Pujols joins exclusive list with 2,000th career RBI
Los Angeles Angels slugger Albert Pujols hit another milestone on Thursday when he registered the 2,000th RBI of his career with a solo home run against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning.
2,000.@PujolsFive | #TheHaloWay pic.twitter.com/ejakVObGXV
— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) May 9, 2019
The 39-year-old received a nice ovation from the small afternoon crowd at Comerica Park in Detroit after belting the 639th blast of his illustrious career. However, the fan that caught the 10-time All-Star's homer declined to give the ball back to him.
"He can have that piece of history," Pujols said, according to Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. "We play this game for the fans.”
Pujols joined Hank Aaron and Alex Rodriguez as the only players in history to record 2,000 RBIs, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.
However, Elias only credits RBIs post-1920. Otherwise, Babe Ruth and Cap Anson would be included on the list of players with 2,000 or more.
Before reaching the milestone on Thursday, Pujols told ESPN's Alden Gonzalez that driving in 2,000 runs would mean just as much, if not more, than recording 3,000 hits. Pujols reached that mark in May 2018.
The three-time MVP sits 297 RBIs behind Aaron for a tie of the all-time lead.