Albert Pujols

Albert Pujols is a professional baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals of the Central Division of the National League. Pujols currently is the Cardinals first baseman. He has also played outfield and third base for the Cardinals.

He was born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, on January 16, 1980. Albert and his wife Deidre have two daughters, Isabella and Sophia, and two sons, A.J. Alberto Junior and Ezra.

Pujols played his college baseball at Maple Woods Community College, in Kansas City, Mo. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1999 amateur draft. After signing with the Cardinals on August 17, 1999, Pujols would make his major league debut on April 2, 2001. making the 2010 season his tenth in professional baseball, all with the St. Louis Cardinals.

The 2010 season marks the tenth year of professional baseball for Pujols, and no time has been waisted in making the first month of the season, April, a continuation of his career success.

The most important and highest level of interest during this season may be the ongoing talks between management and Pujols on a long-term contract for the three-time National League Most Valuable Player (including the last two consecutive years).

Pujols hits third in the batting lineup for the St. Louis Cardinals, and as he requested in the off-season, the St. Louis Cardinals successfully signed free-agent left-fielder Matt Holliday to hit behind him in the lineup. Holliday's addition provided much-needed protection to Pujols, forcing other teams to pitch to the career .334 hitter.

The 2009 season concluded with the St. Louis Cardinals as National League Central Division champions for the seventh time, and Pujols was the leading contributor for the season success. The Cardinals finished the regular season with 91 wins.

As the 2009 National League Most Valuable Player, as well as the 2009 Silver Slugger award-winner, a National League All-Star selection for the eighth time, and the recipient of the 2009 Hank Aaron Award, Pujols hit at a .327 clip, with 47 home runs, which led the National League, and 135 runs batted in. He also scored a league-leading 124 runs for the Cardinals. Pujols .327 average was third best in the National League, behind only the Florida Marlins Hanley Ramirez's .342 and Pablo Sandoval of the San Francisco Giants .330 mark.

Pujols' on-base percentage of .443 led the National League, as did his slugging percentage (.658), his on-base plus slugging percentage (1.101), his total bases (374), his number of extra-base hits (93), and his number of intentional walks (44).

• 2009: .327 average, 47 home runs, 45 doubles, 135 runs batted in