The Saint Louis Cardinals' Albert Pujols managed two baseball oddities in one at bat on Tuesday night. First, he was called out on two strikes. Then, he moved up to number 9 on Major League Baseball's all-time hits list.
Playing in the top of the fourth inning in a scoreless game in Tampa Bay, Pujols had a 1-1 count. The pitch from Springs caught the inside of the strike zone and the umpire punched him out. Albert turned and showed two fingers. The umpire patted his own chest, accepting blame for the mistake, and Pujols got back in the batter's box.
Later in the at bat, with a 2-2 count, Albert grounded into left for a single. It was his 3,320th hit as a Major Leaguer.
The official MLB all-time hit list does not count the 3,435 hits of Cap Anson as putting him seventh on the list. Anson played his career pre-1900 and played several seasons before the formation of the National League, Major League Baseball's senior league. Perhaps his hits while playing in the National Association are not counted by Major League Baseball.
Pujols will need 99 more hits to rise higher on the all-time hits list as Carl Yastrzemski's 3,308 hits are cemented in history. Henry Aaron is the only player in Major League Baseball history to have both more hits and more homeruns than Albert Pujols.
Top 10 Hits Leaders of All-time
- Pete Rose - 4,256
- Ty Cobb - 4,191
- Henry Aaron - 3,771
- Stan Musial - 3,630
- Tristam Speaker - 3,515
- Derek Jeter - 3,465
- Honus Wagner - 3,430
- Carl Yastrzemski - 3,419
- Albert Pujols - 3,321
- Paul Molitor - 3,319
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