MLB Insider Explains The League’s All-Star Game Gesture
MLB, in an effort to recognize the achievements and accomplishments of two living legends, authorized invitations to the Detroit Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera and St. Louis Cardinals’ Albert Pujols for the All-Star Game.
The Midsummer Classic will be played in Los Angeles on July 19, and it will have the two veterans, one on the National League roster (Pujols) and the other in the junior circuit.
Commissioner Rob Manfred has the right, since this offseason, to invite one major league to each roster to recognize “career achievements.”
In Pujols’ last season as a major leaguer, and in the decline phase of Cabrera’s career, they were, by far, the two best candidates to be named.
Both players are so good that they own, together with another legend, an incredible distinction in MLB.
“There are only three players in history that have 3,000 hits, 500 homers and 600 doubles. Pujols and Cabrera are two of them. The other is Henry Aaron,” Bob Nightengale tweeted on Friday.
There are only three players in history that have 3,000 hits, 500 homers and 600 doubles. Pujols and Cabrera are two of them. The other is Henry Aaron. https://t.co/QUrgRPjAkc
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 8, 2022
Two Veteran Stars Will Get To Enjoy The All-Star Game, Probably For One Final Time
Pujols has more than 600 blasts over his storied career (683 to be exact), but Cabrera won a Triple Crown and has a .310 career average, higher than Pujols’ .296.
Between the two players, they have three World Series rings, five MVP awards, a Triple Crown, and a boatload of Silver Slugger awards, batting crowns, and homers and RBI crowns.
Even cooler is the fact that both of them consider the other as the best hitter of their time.
Both stars will get to enjoy the All-Star festivities, the love and admiration from the people, and a game with the league’s best players probably for one last time.
They certainly deserve it.