Just over three weeks after the St. Louis Cardinals’ MLB season was ended at the hands of the Philadelphia Phillies, Albert Pujols has officially put an end to his playing career. 

On Monday, October 31, Pujols signed his retirement papers with the Cardinals, making his retirement official.

This marks the end of his 22-year career in Major League Baseball.

Pujols will go down as perhaps the greatest Dominican-born baseball player in Major League Baseball history.

Born in the Dominican Republic, he moved to the United States with his family as a teenager. He fell in love with the sport of baseball and was drafted into the majors by the St. Louis Cardinals in 1999. 

He began his minor league career the following year, before making his major league debut with the Cardinals the following year. 

Pujols played the first 11 years of his career with the Cardinals, winning two World Series championships with the franchise. 

Months after winning the second of his two World Series, he signed a 10-year, $240 million contract with the Los Angeles Angels in 2012. 

He was released by the team in May 2021, prompting him to later signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he played the remainder of the 2021 season.

Just prior to the 2022 baseball season, Pujols signed with the team that brought him into the league, seeing his career go full circle.

Upon signing his free agent deal, he announced that it would be his final MLB season.

Pujol’s farewell season wasn’t without its spectacles. In September, he eclipsed the 700-home run milestone — becoming the first Latino to ever hit at least 700 career home runs, and only the 4th player in MLB history to accomplish the feat. 

He finished his final season with 24 home runs, and an .895 OPS. In the process, he helped the Cardinals win the National League Central division for the first time since 2019, and earn a wild card spot in the playoffs. 

Staying true to his word, Pujols has signed his retirement papers, signaling the next chapter of his life.

With his playing career now over, his legacy will be that of one of the greatest hitters the league has ever seen. 

He is fourth all-time in home runs (703), ranks second all-time in both RBIs (2,218) and total bases (6,211), fifth in doubles (686), and 10th all-time in hits (3,384).

In addition to his career totals, Pujols is also a former National League Rookie of the Year, a batting champion, three-time NL MVP, two-time Gold Glove Award winner, an 11-time All-Star, and won an NL Championship Series MVP.

With a résumé like that, there is no question that Pujols is heading to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown when he eventually becomes eligible in 2028.