Albert Pujols hits home run 660 and ties Willie Mays on the all-time list

Albert Pujols hit his 660 home run to tie Willie Mays on the all-time list in a 5-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies.

The Dominican did not hit a home run since August 4. “Being able to have my name in prayer with Willie Mays is amazing,” Pujols told the AP after the game. “I am really honored.” His teammates congratulated him effusively on reaching the plate. “I was just saying, ‘Finally, I hit one in the air,” he said.

Trailing 3-2, Pujols, 40, hit a fastball from compatriot Carlos Estévez (1-3) into the empty seats between the center and left field for his 660 home run. The ball easily recovered from the stands without fans to fight for the souvenir or celebrate the milestone. Pujols will keep the ball, but his bat went to third base coach Brian Butterfield, a Mays fan.

Pujols is now behind only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), and Alex Rodriguez (696) on his career home run list. Estévez became the 426 different pitchers that Pujols has taken deep. Only Bonds has homered against more pitchers (449).

Pujols, who is also nicknamed “The Machine” (The Machine) has been constant since the beginning of his career.

Among his records, he collects Baseball-Reference, he has the most home runs in the first three seasons (114); 2001-2003 (tied with Ralph Kiner); most home runs in the first nine seasons (366), 2001-2009; more home runs in the first 10 seasons (408), 2001-2010 and more home runs in the first 16 seasons (591), 2001-2016.

Pujols has hit 487 home runs against right-handed pitchers and 173 against left-handed shooters and has hit 500 of his 660 home runs as a third at-bat.

The two parks where he has hit the most home runs are Busch Stadium (111) when he played for the St. Louis Cardinals, and the home of his current team, the Angels, Angel Stadium of Anaheim. He hit 94 at the old Busch Stadium.

Rockies manager Bud Black said Pujols’ place in history is already secured. “One of the best right-handed hitters of all time,” Black said. “No doubt about that”.

Pujols was 3-1 with one run, two RBIs, two walks, and a strikeout (.237). For the Rockies, Raimel Tapia, 2-1 with a run scored (.302). The nominee has the next season under contract with the Angels, following a 10-year deal for $ 240 million.

Pujols is a three-time MVP and has been to the All-Star Games 10 times. Mays, by some the greatest player of all time, played 22 years, hitting 646 home runs with the San Francisco Giants and 14 with the New York Mets. Pujols is playing his 20th season.

The Dominican is one of three Latinos in the top 10 of all-time in home runs, led by Sammy Sosa with 609 dingers.