This year was the first time the David Freese returned to St. Louis since the Cardinals let him go. Freese made himself a hometown hero in Game 6 of the 2011 World Series when the Cardinals were down to final strike and he hit a triple to tie up the game. Two innings later he came back and hit a walk-off home run to win the game, sending the Cardinals into Game 7 of the World Series, which they ended up winning. It made things even better that he was raised in St. Louis.

When he finally returned to St. Louis, the crowd erupted in applause and gave him a standing ovation. He deserved it. This made me wonder what would happen if Albert Pujols ever made the return to the place that he once considered his home. Pujols left St. Louis to go play for the Angels after his 2011 season. At the time, he was the best player on the team. Cardinals fans started panicking, wondering what we would ever do without him. There were many people who were mad and upset because we just lost our best player for some extra money over on the coast. However, it has been five years since that happened and the Cardinals did fine without him. We are over it.

St. Louis has played the Anaheim Angels three times since Pujols left. Every single time it has been at Anaheim. Pujols has not come back to play at Busch Stadium since 2011. He said in an interview, “To tell you the truth, it is what it is, but I would love to get back to St. Louis, to play a game there. I was excited to see Freese. That was special. I thought that 2016 was going to be the chance. It didn’t work. I always tell people I came there a little boy and I left there a grown man. It would be pretty emotional, too. I’m a pretty emotional guy."

Pujols had quite the journey with the Cardinals in the ten years that he played for us. He was a three-time National League MVP, a nine time all star player, and he won two championships while he was a Cardinal. The Cardinals come back from games they are losing a lot, but one of my favorite comebacks came from Albert Pujols against the Houston Astros. In 2005, in game 5 of the NLCS, Houston was up on their feet with two outs left in the ninth inning. Albert Pujols came up to bat and blasted a three-run home run, which made the stadium completely silent as he rounded the bases. The Cardinals ended up winning the game 5-4.

There are countless memories that Pujols has given us throughout those ten years, which is why it is so important that he can get a chance to be at St. Louis before he retires. He deserves to have his ovation from the fans that will always cherish his amazing memories. Pujols, we want you to come home, too.