St. Louis Cardinal Player Named

2006 American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year

 

       

            INDIANAPOLIS (July 17, 2006) - Helping the Cardinals win their seventh game in a row is not the only honor that Albert Pujols

            brought to his team last weekend.  In a pre-game ceremony on Saturday at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Pujols was presented The

            American Legion Baseball Graduate of the Year Award.

 

            The award is presented to the professional baseball player who played American Legion Baseball as a teenager, and who best

            exemplifies the principals and purposes of that program.  This award is based upon the individual's citizenship, leadership,

            sportsmanship, general good conduct, integrity and playing ability.

  

            Homer Dickmann, Missouri Legion Baseball Chairman and Gary Stone, Pujols' American Legion Baseball coach, were on hand to

            make the presentation.

 

            Pujols, who became the first player in baseball history to bat .300 with 30 home runs, 100 runs and 100 RBIs in each of his first two

            seasons, played American Legion Baseball for Post 340 in Independence, Mo. In that two-year span, Pujols played in 122 games, hit

            79 home runs and had 249 RBIs.

 

            This award is based on playing ability, on the player’s individual character, leadership and community service work.

 

            According to National Commander Tom Bock, the star infielder is a proven role model, both on and off the baseball diamond.

 

            “Most remarkably, after his first year in Legion Baseball, Albert was approached by several traveling teams in the Kansas City area

            to quit his Legion Team and join their program,” Bock said.  “This young man chose instead to honor his commitment to his Legion

            teammates.”

 

            Pujols’ charity work includes starting an annual golf outing to raise funds for the Greater St. Louis Down’s Syndrome Association. 

            The annual golf outing became the basis for establishing a family foundation with his wife Dee Dee.  In May of this year, his family

            foundation awarded $50,000 to the Greater St. Louis Down’s Syndrome Foundation as well as $50,000 to a special children’s orphanage.

 

            Pujols and his family annually deliver teddy bears to children at the Cardinal Glennon Hospital. 

 

            He is an All Star performer on the field also.  Three times he has won the Silver Slugger award. Pujols has worn the Cardinals uniform

            at five All Star games he has participated in. 

 

            He is also the reigning National League’s Most Valuable Player

 

            For the past 51 years, The American Legion has honored a former American Legion player who exemplifies the principles and goals of

            service to the community, state and nation. 

 

            Some of the previous winners of this award include Steve Carlton, Stan Musial, Ted Williams, Tony Gwynn, Johnny Bench, Al Kaline,

            Brooks Robinson, Carlton Fisk, George Brett, Roger Clemens, Paul Molitor, Ryne Sandberg and Dave Winfield.

 

            Two former Hall of Fame Cardinals have received this award - Stan Musial in 1961, and Steve Carlton in 1971.