It's so funny how, even though the Cardinals ended up losing this series, all anyone remembers from this series was this home run. THAT'S how legendary the moment was
After Pujols hit his 700 hr, I find it interesting that a lot of people brought this particular moment up to show his greatness. As an Astros fan I can confirm that this moment is forever sketch in my memory. This indeed is a legendary moment from an iconic baseball player.
@@elbertrobles8784 he killed the Reds and Cubs a lot too, but since they were last place teams all those years people forget his dominance over them. He killed the Rangers in game 3 so much that the white hot Freese was pitched to instead of Pujols in game 6. If Washington had taken his chances on Pujols, it's likely Freese never gets his clutch hits in that game.
He killed it against the pirates, too. I could be remembering it wrong, but I think at one point in his career he was the home run leader at PNC Park. At the very least as a visitor if not overall.
ITs a shame Billy Wagner is only remembered for this mostly. Dude was a great closer that got a ring. No one remembers the rest of this series cause Houston laid an egg in WS
My uncle was at this game in the second deck. He said the crowd was so electric and then when he hit this home run, he could hear the sound of AP's cleats hitting the dirt as he rounded the bases. The epitome of stunned silence.
A good friend of mine was at the game too. She told me that the stadium was crazy loud then instantly went silent. She also told me she had never seen a ball hit that far.
Lidge had a horrible post season, pujols took him deep. Podsednik in game 2 of the WS took him deep after not hitting any HRs in the season and then he blew the 0 - 0 tie in the 8th of game 4 leading to the Sox world series win
WELL said bro! The ONLY ball I've ever seen hit any harder and further was Barry Bonds in tha 2OO2 World Series against tha Angels! I believe he hit that 1 off Troy Percival who has a very similar style as Brad Lidge! DAMN Pujols just tattooed that poor ball
I remember watching this game with my dad when I was 13, we were both huge Astros fans, especially the Astros of the early 2000's. I've managed to never watch this replay since that night and tried my hardest to block it out of my memory. But after seeing him get his 3000th career hit tonight, I had to come pay my respects. Congratulations to one of the greatest of all time!
Mannnnn. You ain’t lying. This shit broke my heart as a young Texan who was a die hard Astros fan through his childhood days. Hurts worse than the World Series loss to the Sox.
If it wasn't for the tracks, that ball would've went 500 feet. Absolutely crushed. If you're gonna hang a slider over the middle of the plate, that was the absolute last person at the absolute wrong time to do so. Even though we lost the series, that is probably my favorite childhood memory as a cards fan.
WalkUpSlowlyDownSmash I shut off the tv and went to bed when Houston was leading. I found out what happened before I went to school the next morning lol.
absolutely one of my favorite moments as a cardinals fan, yes even though they went on to lose this series. this clip doesnt show it, but there is a shot of andy pettitte in the houston dugout saying "oh my god!" which i will never forget.
Red Sox fan here but I absolutely love this homer. One of the hardest hit balls I have ever seen. Hanging slider, full extension, Prime Pujols. I just wish the stadium wasn't a dome, so we could just watch that ball travel another 150 feet.
Yep, now I know how my Grandad felt when Musial called it a career, there's no replacing Albert or Yadi, we've been blessed as an organization so we just wait for the next phenom to fall out of the sky. Hopefully
As an Astros fan that was there that night, I can honestly say this HR is one of the manliest sports moments I've ever seen from an individual. Even though the Astros won that series...this moment and HR DOES NOT get the credit it deserves.
Agreed. I remember watching that game on TV and when Pujols came up he just knew he was going to unleash one. That ball got out of there so fast. Lidge was ruined for about 18 months after that.
Lidge bounced back in 2008, but this HR really seemed to affect him starting in the 2005 World Series when he lost two games he entered that were tied.
I’ve heard some fans complain about Pujols stopping to watch the ball. But seriously; that was an EPIC home run. That’s one that needed a moment of admiration.
Fun Fact, Albert Pujols holds the record for most home runs against any individual team. That team is the Astros. He still gets booed at the plate whenever he comes to Houston.
Me. That Soler homer might've actually been even crueller from the Astros perspective, since it ended their season right then & there. Astros still had a game after the Pujols' blast. Plus, the Soler ball really did leave the stadium. (Pujols's would've as well if the roof was open though).
Jorge Soler just hit a ball farther than this in game 6 of the World Series and this video was the first thing I thought of. Almost same exact spot in the same stadium. I’m in awe right now.
No, he didn't. Pujols' was measured farther. The reason it looked longer was because the roof was closed on Pujols, so it bounced back, while Soler's cleared the stadium in an open roof.
Came here after the Angels DFA-ed him. I’ve been an Astros fan my whole life. He broke my heart multiple times and ruined Lidge’s career in Houston, but I hope he’s not done. I hope he gets on with someone and knocks one more dramatic HR in the playoffs off the bench Gibson-style. Albert is pure class. I’ve always feared and hated his play against us, but I’ve always respected him. *Hat tip* Prince Albert.
Funny thing is the Dodgers helped improve Alberts swing and stance and they also were the only team that actually used a brain and noticed he is a monster vs left handed pitchers so now with the Dodgers vs lefties hes betting 306 avg (vs lefties ofc).
Tsukuyomi27 lidge made a huge comeback in 2008!!! one of the best performances by a reliever in baseball history. he took the phillies to the world series and won the championship. amen
I will never forget this because before the pitch Biggio had tears in his eyes thinking he was going to his first WS. Didnt know he had to play one more game.
I was a huge Astro's fan at the time (I went to game 3 of that years WS), but this moment was devastating for me. Not because we lost this game, but because our red-hot closer is probably still going to therapy over that one. Seriously though, I was so happy for Lidge when he finally got his in philly.
lmao so many have hit it up on the tracks its not that big of a deal...where yordan alvarez hit one opposite field on the tracks probably couldnt even done by many right handers including pujols
On the plane flight to St. Louis, Brad Ausmus convinced the pilot to get on the intercom and say "If you'd look to you're left you'll see the ball Pujols hit last night travelling at 10,000 feet."
0-1 to Pujols. IN THE AIR LEFT FIELD AND PUJOLS HAS GIVEN ST. LOUIS THE LEAD!!! A DRAMATIC TOWERING 3 RUN HOMERUN!!! Stunned in disbelief here in Houston. A single by Eckstein a walk to Edmonds and how about Albert Pujols?
Albert Pujols will always be my favorite player of all time. I wore #5 and I wore it proudly. I didn't play the same position as him in the field, I didn't have anything in common with him at all - but I looked up to him nonetheless. He was simply inspiring and fun to watch - he exudes greatness.
As much of a beast as Pujols was, and certainly he's one of the greatest players of all time, I have to say that as an unbiased Braves fan I think Soler's was just a smidgen more impressive. Not only did it clear the Crawford boxes, but it went OVER the train tracks. As in like, completely out of the stadium.😂In a potential clinching WS game no less. Like, my God. And his reaction combined with the dugout's was just priceless. Security said they found it lying in a courtyard. Lmao. Like this clip, it will forever go down in history and will be remembered in the hearts and minds of the Atlanta faithful.
Long time baseball fan live and die with Cubs 69, to some degree 84 (Tigers would have swept us in the Series), et al but in truth a champagne problem. It hurt for a couple of years, was glad he won with Phillies just because he seems like a decent human. And my perspective on this stuff changed after Donnie Moore. You hurt with these guys, their teams, but the older I'm getting my perspective changes. We all have played competitively and I' m sure his teammates were behind him and helped. How many guys get to walk out there to begin with. He had more skill than I'll ever have and bigger stones to take the ball and challenge a guy equally as talented. No shame to Lidge he did alright.
Ditto. Was at the Pujols game. So deflated. Sympathize w those Ms more than they know. Also was at the Walt Weiss game in 1999...and my infant son had his first illness for Game 6 Verlander vs Yankees in 2017, had to miss that one. Going tomorrow and hoping my curse is broken ;)
People thought that Lidge would never recover from this...until he went to the Phillies and had a perfect season as their closer leading them to winning the World Series.
I remember going into the top of the 9th inning wondering what would it take to get Pujols to the plate. They needed at least two baserunners, and Pujols would be the go-ahead run. After two quick outs, it seemed hopeless, but then Eckstein got a hit and Edmonds walked, and we got the matchup and scenario baseball fans wanted to see regardless of the outcome.
This is the Homerun that made me a Pujols fan. I hope he makes it to 700+ Notice the home plate umpire didn't move when he hit the ball? He's like, " DAMN, another game!" Another thing, noticed how he watched the ball, which apparently is taboo nowadays.... Why do people get so butt hurt over people doing this today? Or do they only let it slide when it's somebody big like Pujols?
Darkkefka Well, the game was over... and the Astros were more likely to walk him then hit him in the future. Hitting Pujols would make him angry...you wouldnt likee him angry.
Tom Rain the Cards should have given him more money. He gave them a discount with his first contract, they weren't getting a pass again. Pujols already had 2 WS titles, at the point he was at in his career he was playing for the money. I think he more than deserved it. Especially with the monster contract that the Cards just gave to a 34 year old Yadi.
My three friends and I were making more noise in the living room where we were watching the game when that happened than the entire stadium in Houston was. The definition of Epic Bomb.
Man i will never forget this....this is even more memorable than the Kirk Gibson home run in 1988.....the Cardinals were on the brink of losing the pennant, when Pujols hit this one to the moon.....man those Houston fans were SICK...they were all up on their feet, ready to celebrate...."The amazing Albert Pujols!"....Houston eventually won the pennant but not before Albert FORCED them to go to St. Louis to do it....LOL!...love it!
I watched this game on TV. Cards were one out from elimination, then single, walk, and Pujols! That HR essentially ended Brad Lidge's career as an effective pitcher, he was never the same again.
I remember watching this one when I was around 12 years old. I'm an Astros fan but those NLCS series against the Cards are straight up nostalgia to me. Lidge was never the same after this. I don't know why we walked Edmonds to pitch to the Machine.
That was one of those moments you knew it was going to happen. As soon as the first two hitters got on and he was up you knew he was going to hit one out. I could feel it. You don’t give great hitters like that a chance to beat you.
