LOS ANGELES -- St. Louis Cardinals slugger Albert Pujols hit his 700th career home run on Friday night, connecting for his second drive of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers and becoming the fourth player to reach the milestone in major league history.
The 42-year-old Pujols hit No. 699 in the third inning, then launched No. 700 in the fourth at Dodger Stadium.
With the drive in the final days of his last big league season, Pujols joined Barry Bonds (762 home runs), Hank Aaron (755) and Babe Ruth (714) in one of baseball's most exclusive clubs.
It's been a remarkable run for Pujols. This was his 14th home run since the start of August for the NL Central-leading Cardinals, and his 21st of the season.
Pujols' historic home run was a three-run shot against Dodgers reliever Phil Bickford. The ball landed in the first few rows of the left-field pavilion, the same location his two-run shot touched down the previous inning off left-hander Andrew Heaney.
Pujols received a prolonged standing ovation from the crowd -- he finished out last season while playing for the Dodgers. He took a curtain call, raising his cap in acknowledgment.
The fans chanted "Pujols! Pujols!" They finally sat down after being on their feet in anticipation of seeing history.
Pujols snapped a tie with Alex Rodriguez for fourth on the list when he hit career home run No. 697 against Pittsburgh on Sept. 11.
Reaching 700 home runs seemed like a long shot for Pujols when he was batting .189 on July 4. But the three-time NL MVP started to find his stroke in August, swatting seven home runs in one 10-game stretch that helped St. Louis pull away in the division race.
"I know that early in the year ... I obviously wanted better results," Pujols said after he homered in a 1-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 22. "But I felt like I was hitting the ball hard. Sometimes this game is going to take more away from you than the game (is) giving you back.
"So I think at the end of the day you have to be positive and just stay focused and trust your work. That's something that I've done all the time."
Pujols has enjoyed a resurgent season after returning to St. Louis in March for a $2.5 million, one-year contract. It's his highest total since he hit 23 home runs for the Angels in 2019.
He plans to retire when the season ends.
Pujols also began his career in St. Louis. He was selected by the Cardinals in the 13th round of the 1999 amateur draft and won the 2001 NL Rookie of the Year award.
The Dominican Republic native hit at least .300 with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBI in each of his first 10 seasons. He helped the Cardinals to World Series titles in 2006 and 2011.
He set a career high with 49 home runs in 2006 -- one of seven seasons with at least 40 home runs. He led the majors with 47 home runs in 2009 and topped the NL with 42 in 2010.
Pujols left St. Louis in free agency in December 2011, signing a $240 million, 10-year contract with the Angels. He was waived by the Angels in May 2021, and then joined the Dodgers and hit 12 home runs and drove in 38 runs in 85 games.
St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Albert Pujols (5) hits a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. Brendan Donovan and Tommy Edman also scored. It was Pujols' 700th career home run. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Albert Pujols (5) reacts after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. Brendan Donovan and Tommy Edman also scored. It was Pujols' 700th career home run. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Albert Pujols (5) watches after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. Brendan Donovan and Tommy Edman also scored. It was Pujols' 700th career home run. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Albert Pujols, center,celebrates with teammates after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. Brendan Donovan and Tommy Edman also scored. It was Pujols' 700th career home run. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Albert Pujols (5) celebrates with Brendan Donovan (33) after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. Brendan Donovan and Tommy Edman also scored. It was Pujols' 700th career home run. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)
St. Louis Cardinals designated hitter Albert Pujols (5) hits a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Los Angeles, Friday, Sept. 23, 2022. Brendan Donovan and Tommy Edman also scored. It was Pujols' 700th career home run. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)Gallery: Albert Pujols' 700th career home run
