Pujols on Pennsylvania Avenue: Slugger visits the White House
Pujols returns to the dugout after hitting a homerun against the Nats
ST. LOUIS — When the Cardinals visited the White House to celebrate their 2006 World Series championship, the team’s franchise slugger could not make the trip.
First baseman Albert Pujols was on a humanitarian visit to his native Dominican Republic, a trip he takes each off-season.
But this weekend, with the Cardinals visiting the Washington Nationals, Pujols used some down time to finally visit the executive mansion.
Baseball scribe Joe Strauss reports that after Saturday’s game, Pujols, his wife Deidre, and several friends took a tour of the White House. (Nats fan should he happy that El Hombre was doing something other than batting against them — he terrorized Washington pitching for two dingers in as many games in the truncated series.)
Pujols was unable to meet President Barack Obama, but, according to Strauss, he did leave the president an autographed jersey and several balls signed by himself and skipper Tony La Russa.
It’s well-known, of course, that Obama’s baseball passion lies squarely with his hometown Chicago White Sox — though it never hurts to have a National League favorite, too, especially if that team is in a perennial swing state.
The last great Saint Louis baseball emissary was Stan the Man. El Hombre carries on the tradition with poise, character, stature and a bat which commands respect. Saint Louisans are very lucky to have him as a representative. Now if we could only get El Hombre and LaGenius resigned which will ensure that we will continue to enjoy winning baseball at it’s best.
God Bless El Hombre and LaGenius!!