(The 42-year-old Pujols seemed equal parts excited to win and aggrieved at having to stand up again in this respect, the three-time MVP has never been more relatable.)Īs the oldest of four Dominican players in the field, along with Soto, Julio Rodríguez, and José Ramírez, Pujols’s final moment in the sun wasn’t just a curtain call, but a passing of the torch. But Pujols unexpectedly bested the Phillies outfielder in a swing-off before losing in the semifinal to Juan Soto. A throng of players surrounded Pujols to salute him near the end of his first round, when it looked like he would fall to no. The valedictory tone of his appearance was obvious from the start. Despite playing only part time and having just six home runs this season, Pujols joined the Home Run Derby field by special invitation from MLB, as a capstone of sorts for the man who’s hit 180 more home runs than any other active player. Albert Pujols walked onto the Dodger Stadium infield Monday as a faintly Abrahamic figure, flanked by children both biological and cultural.

Final curtain call song