By Dennis J. Freeman
Anaheim, CA-Albert Pujols carries a big stick. He also carries a big heart. The city of Anaheim and the rest of Southern California are all better today now that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim has rolled out the red carpet treatment and welcome mat for the three-time National League MVP. A nine-time all-star, Pujols was officially introduced in a well-designed press conference as the newest member of the Angels.
“I’m going to be here the next ten years, and I’m going to enjoy,” said Pujols. “I’m going to try to do the best that I can, not just for the team, but also for the community, off the field. As you guys know with my foundation I’ve done a lot of great things-not just in the city of St. Louis, but in the Dominican Republic. I’m going to continue to do that.”
Unofficially, Anaheim and Southern California was introduced to its newest prince. Sure, Los Angeles Lakers and NBA superstar Kobe Bryant may still rule the coastal waters. But now he has to share his once unquestioned throne with the popular Pujols in the megastar category. A sure-lock Hall of Fame player, Pujols brings a lot more to the city of Anaheim and the Angels than his career .328 batting average.
He brings a lot more to the table than his 445 home runs and 1,329 RBIs. What Pujols brings is presence-on and off-the-field. He brings hope. The Angels are hoping for a string of championships by signing the electrifying Pujols to a 10-year, $254 million contract. With two world titles already under his belt, the Angeles are hoping Pujols and his big bat can bring more of that kind of hardware to their organization.
On the field is not the only place where Pujols inspire others. Pujols walks the walk when it comes to helping others. He’s heavy on being involved in community activities-whether it is over in his homeland of the Dominican Republic, St. Louis or Anaheim. Pujols and his wife, Diedre, have brought hope to many lives when they began the Pujols Family Foundation, which is focused on providing information and assisting those afflicted with Down Syndrome.
Baseball and community involvement is what Pujols is about. The city of Anaheim doesn’t have to worry about Pujols ever buckling under the weight of juggling and handling the two. His shoulders are broad enough to carry them both. Angels’ owner Arte Moreno believes he can.
“I told him that we’d like him to be an Angel,” Moreno said. “We do a lot of stuff in the community, but we don’t try to honk the horn about it. That’s really what Albert’s family is about. There’s going to be life after baseball.”
Bringing Pujols to the Angels wasn’t just a baseball move for Moreno. Considering Pujols’ commitment to charitable works and combined with a strong Latino base in Anaheim and in Los Angeles County, the impact that the former St. Louis Cardnals’ slugger could be immeasurable.
“We don’t only just focus on what’s going on at the park-we focus on the community,” Moreno said.
Angels outfielder Torii Hunter, who attended Pujols’ press conference, is just excited to have a player of that magnitude on the same roster.
“When I heard about Albert I made a call and talked to him for about 35 to 40 minutes. We just chatted about everything,” Hunter said. “He was excited. I was excited. But at the same time, he’s sad about leaving St. Louis. He’s hurt. He played 11 seasons there. I played 11 seasons with Minnesota. I told him once you get over here in this Angels family they are going to except you with open arms. You’re going to have a lot of fun. You’re going to feel like you fit in right away. This is a great day. This is something I’ve dreamed about.”
This is also a signing fans certainly are on board with. Brian Senior from Redlands loves the idea that Pujols is joining the Angeles.
“It’s Albert Pujols, man,” Senior said. “He’s going to make everybody in our lineup better. He’s a class act. He’s a good Christian man. He wears his emotions on his sleeve. He always does the best for the community. I look forward to watching him for a long time. I am a third generation Angles fan, everybody in my family is Angels fan. I just love this place, great atmosphere, perfect place to bring your family for the day. Now we have so much more to cheer about. It’s a great day in Angels ‘ history. I’m loving this.”
Dennis has covered and written about politics, crime, race, sports, and entertainment. Dennis currently covers the NFL, MLB, NBA, NCAA, and Olympic sports. Dennis is the editor of News4usonline.com and serves as the publisher of the Compton Bulletin newspaper. He earned a journalism degree from Howard University. Email Dennis at dfreeman@news4usonline.com
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