Eleven and Out

I have never been to St. Louis Missouri. Trips across the country on old Route 66, not a typo, and later I-70 had me skirting the town but regretfully never stopping for a cup of coffee. Somehow though I feel akin to the folks that live there. Perhaps it is because I have been a St Louis Cardinal fan since the age of eight or nine.

The baseball Gods have been kind to the Cardinal fans over the years. We have had our share of glory and disappointments but not as alarming as that of the departure of Albert Pujols. This news coming on the heels of a wonderful, dramatic World Series victory. Their eleventh by the way, second only to the very rich New York Yankees.

Mr. Pujols started his career as a Cardinal eleven years ago. Strange that the total coincides with the number of World Series wins. Sadly he no longer will wear the uniform with the birds on the bat. The numbers he put up are good enough to place him in the baseball Hall Of Fame. Quite an achievement for a career that may be only half through at the age of thirty two.

The Cardinal chat forums are filled with a mixture of relief, consolation and anger. Relief, because the ordeal of the decision process has finally ended. Consolation, because the amount of dollars and long term commitment may have been too much for the Cardinal organization to absorb. Anger, because Albert is on record saying he wanted to be a Cardinal for life. Most fans wanted it so!

Well it is business done. He is now an Anaheim Angel and this makes some of my family and friends very happy. I wish all the best for Albert and his family and thank him for making my prediction of eleven years ago come true. Very early in Mr. Pujol's career I got the sense he was special. It was over a beer at a bar with a friend on one of my visits with relatives in Imperial PA. He was an Alex Rodriguez fan. My friend laughed at me, claimed I was nuts when I said, "Albert will someday be talked about in the same breath as Arod!" Of course, Albert delivered!

Saying goodbye to Albert is going to be extremely difficult. I enjoyed his individual accomplishments along with each Cardinal win. I definitely will miss all the thrills he provided along the way. Thank you for the memories Albert. A Cardinal no more:-( Soon!