It is mentioned less often now, but the so-called sophomore jinx has always been used as one reason why some rookies don’t do as well in their second major league season. Some sophomore players do better in their second season than in their first.
Albert Pujols belongs to neither group.
During spring training following his rookie season, the media continually asked Pujols how he felt the sophomore jinx would affect him. He wondered aloud why he was asked that question almost daily. He explained that he played hard every day and felt no pressure. There was no reason that would change.
As a rookie, he batted .329/.403/.610 with 37 home runs and 130 RBIs. As a sophomore, he batted .314/.394/.561 with 34 home runs and 127 RBIs. Albert Pujols is consistent.
It was no accident that Pujols did so well in his first two seasons and soon would become baseball’s best player.
“Last year I came in trying to make the club, and that’s the same attitude I had this year,” Pujols said.
“There’s always someone ready to take your spot. That’s how it is and that’s how I’ll be thinking as long as God lets me play this game. I can’t explain it. That’s how I am.”
St. Louis Cardinals great Lou Brock marveled at how young Pujols approached each at-bat like a veteran.
“He transcends just having a good rookie year,” said Brock. “It’s one thing to look for the moment, but it’s another to be in that moment and know what to do. If he strikes out, he’s like a little kid who falls down and thinks it’s part of the act, where if an adult falls, he thinks something’s wrong. He treats his next at-bat as exciting as the first.”
In other words, nothing flustered Albert Pujols.
Pujols batted in 257 runs in his first two seasons, a total exceeded by only Joe DiMaggio (292), Dale Alexander (272) and Ted Williams (258).
Joe DiMaggio batted .323/.352/.576 with 29 home runs and 125 RBIs in his rookie season. Pujols topped DiMaggio in each category.
Ted Williams is another story.
The player who might have been an even better hitter than Pujols batted .327/.436/.609 with 31 home runs and 145 RBIs. It will be fascinating to see how Pujols, as a hitter, finally compares to DiMaggio, Williams and the other greats.
In 2011, Pujols has become a free agent. He had a great 2011 season that was capped off with another St. Louis Cardinals World Championship, but some of Pujols’ numbers slipped.
Many “experts” in the media believe that Prince Fielder will provide better value than Pujols over the next few seasons, primarily because Fielder is younger Most ignore the effects Fielder’s weight will produce as he ages.
One American League scouting director compared Pujols and Fielder quite accurately.
“It’s hard to dethrone the king, and that’s Albert. Prince is the prince, and Albert is the king, so I’d probably defer to him.”
Jim Leyland, who has managed and seen some pretty good players, never doubted, even in 2002, Pujols’ greatness.
“If he could maintain what he did last year and plays for 15 years, that’s Hall of Fame numbers,” Leyland said.