How Clutch Has Albert Pujols Been? The Numbers Tell An Incredible Tale

As Albert Pujols continues his legendary march towards 700 career home runs—he's now just two short after more histrionics last night—it's not only the insane HR tear that he's on, at the age of 42, but the absolute clutch nature of how he's doing it.

Pujols isn't hitting just any home runs to pad his total — they're home runs that are helping the St. Louis Cardinals to victory. His 2-run bomb Friday night traveled 427 feet, and tied the game at four in the 6th inning. But that's not all.

The Cardinals are 15-1 in games that Albert Pujols homers in.

Legendary X-Factor 💫 pic.twitter.com/NWNH5k9GNF

— B/R Walk-Off (@BRWalkoff) September 17, 2022

The Cards are 15-1 in the 16 games in which Pujols has homered for them. Five of his last six HRs have come in the 6th inning or later and have either tied the game or given the Cardinals the lead.

A recap of how Albert Pujols has timed his past three HRs.

No. 696: Ties game vs. #Pirates.
No. 697: Flips lead on #Pirates.
No. 698: Ties game vs. #Reds.

History impacting the present.#stlcards #Cardinals #HOF #MLB

— Derrick Goold (@dgoold) September 17, 2022

Well said by Derrick Goold, Cardinals writer for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, as Pujols is indeed "history impacting the present." 

He's two short of the magical 700 Club — a club with only Babe Ruth, Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds as members.

And at this point, who would bet against No. 700 coming on a dramatic walk-off homer?

Photos: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports, Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports