Albert Pujols has reached a milestone the sports world might not see again for a long time.
Friday night against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, Pujols crushed his 700th career home run, becoming only the fourth player in MLB history to hit the mark. And given the state of the active home run leaderboard, it could be a long time until the milestone is reached again, if it ever is.
Pujols is a future first-ballot Hall of Famer. Throughout his career, he has been one of the most feared sluggers in the game. He has won three NL MVP awards, NL Rookie of the Year, six Silver Slugger awards and a batting title. He earned 11 All-Star nods.
With his home run off Dodgers right-hander Phil Bickford, he joined Hank Aaron as the only players in MLB history with 3,000 hits and 700 home runs.
MORE: Watch Albert Pujols hit home run No. 700
Pujols' status as a baseball immortal had been solidified well before his milestone home run, but Friday night was another chance for the sports world to pay homage to the all-time great as he wraps up his final season in the majors.
The first player to congratulate Pujols wasn't even a teammate, but rather fellow Dominican slugger Adrian Beltre, who was in attendance and watching the game from behind home plate.
The first person Albert Pujols embraced after hitting HR No. 700 was Adrián Beltré 🤝
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 24, 2022
What a moment for the two Dominican greats ❤️🇩🇴 pic.twitter.com/fCf4QDq9yL
In Phoenix, the players in the Giants-Diamondbacks game stopped to watch Pujols trot around the bases after 700.
Craw, J.D., Wilmer and Longo watch Albert Pujols' 700th home run on the scoreboard in Arizona pic.twitter.com/934qJ8WVYm
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) September 24, 2022
MORE: Where Albert Pujols ranks on all-time home run list
Former teammate Shohei Ohtani offers his reaction after the Angels' game in Minnesota.
Shohei Ohtani on Albert Pujols reaching 700 homers: "I’m really glad he got to 700. I played with him for a couple years and it was an honor to be a teammate of his. He’s raking this year so I feel like he has a lot left in the tank.”
— Rhett Bollinger (@RhettBollinger) September 24, 2022
White Sox manager Tony La Russa, who managed the Cardinals from 1998 to 2011, offered congratulations to his longtime first baseman.
.@PujolsFive could always do everything a player can do to help his team. But right at the top of his talents was an amazing ability to produce in clutch
— Tony La Russa (@TonyLaRussa) September 24, 2022
pressure times. Like tonight!!
Hall of Fame pitcher and fellow Dominican icon Pedro Martinez offered congratulations as well.
You are the man!! @PujolsFive estoy tan pero tan orgulloso de ti, mi hermano, un compatriota, 700 from DR to history!! God bless you my bro
— Pedro Martinez (@45PedroMartinez) September 24, 2022
Gregg you got it right! @MLBNetwork @Plesac19 #platanopower #pujols #700 #DR pic.twitter.com/AtPq7Ro93o
