Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn feels Albert Pujols’ decision should be respected – MLB News
The National Baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn stated on Tuesday, December 13, he would have loved to see Albert Pujols in the Cardinals uniform, but it was a decision one has to respect.
Albert Pujols’ reported over $250 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals drew mixed reactions as some are finding it incredibly surprising and some are entirely expected given the uncertainty over the fate of the deal while he was in the St. Louis Cardinals.
However, for a Hall of Famer like Tony Gwynn, who remained a seemingly indelible presence for the San Diego Padres, believes money does play an important role in shaping the perspective of a player in the decision pertaining to one’s stay in the club or
moving ahead.
There were times when another Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt stayed with the Philadelphia Phillies during his entire career. Similarly, Ryne Sandberg always remained associated with the Kansas City Royals and Carl Ripken with the Baltimore Orioles.
However, what many would have expected to happen, but did not dismiss the possibility of exactly opposite, was the decision of Albert Pujols. Until last week, it was not certainly completely clear as to where he would move.
But now that he has made his decision, Tony Gwynn says it has to be respected even if he himself loved to see him with the St. Louis Cardinals.
"I would have loved to have seen him wear a Cardinals uniform his entire career, but this is the decision he made and you have to respect that, and I do," Gwynn said. "For me, now it means everything to have spent my career in one city. You would like to
see guys stay with one club, but the money has gotten so huge.”
For some Hall of Fame players, it is not necessary or indispensible that a player stays with a team for the entire career. He has to move on, which he will. Same is the case with the Albert Pujols where it had almost become inevitable to call it a day for
the Cardinals and move.
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