Albert Pujols has accomplished plenty throughout what will be a Hall of Fame career, including new records for the Los Angeles Dodgers this season, but on Sunday he was among those to take a backseat and congratulate Miguel Cabrera on hitting 500 career home runs.
Cabrera’s opposite-field blast helped the Tigers pull even with Toronto Blue Jays in a game they ultimately won in 11 innings. He’d gone without a home run in eight games after reaching 499 in his career. Cabrera was just 4-for-31 between his 499th and 500th career homer.
He became the 28th player in MLB history to reach the milestone, and first since David Ortiz did so with the Boston Red Sox in 2015.
“Miggy, my brother, welcome to the 500 club,” Pujols said in a video shared by the Tigers. “I’m so proud of everything you have accomplished in this game and many more to come. Good luck, and God bless you.”
Pujols reached 500 career home runs with the L.A. Angels in 2014. The video also featured Alex Rodriguez (500 home runs in 2007), Jim Thome (2007), Gary Sheffield (2009) and Ortiz (2015)
Welcome to the 500 Club, Miggy! pic.twitter.com/oFT8nGre16
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) August 22, 2021
Cabrera is the first Tigers player to ever reach 500 career home runs. He and Pujols are the only active players to be part of the prestigious club.
The Tigers are going to Cabrera’s accomplishment at Comerica Park with a ceremony on Friday, Sept. 24., which has been deemed “Miggy Celebration Day.”
The next milestone for Cabrera to chase down is 3,000 career hits, which he is a mere 50 away from.
Pujols, Cabrera connected
Along with being the only active MLB players to be part of the 500-home run club, Cabrera and Pujols are among those born outside of the United States to accomplish the feat.
Cabrera is the first Venezuelan-born player with 500 career home runs, and joined Ortiz, Pujols, Sammy Sosa, Rafael Palmeiro and Manny Ramirez as those who were not born in the United States and reached the statistical milestone.
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