Considering his current pace, will Albert Pujols be the best hitter ever when he retires?

Answer 1

There is no question that he will be. He has done things that players like Mantle, Ruth, and Maris Haven't. For example, he is the only player in the history of the game to hit 30 home runs in his first five years in the majors. He has amazing talent! He can hit for average and power and is great at it. He could easily win the triple crown and he is already being mentioned with greats like, Clemente, Aaron, Mays, and many more! He is the best player in the league BY FAR and he will only improve. There is no doubt in my mind the he could become the greatest hitter of all time!

Answer 2

I think the question depends on what pace you are talking about. If you are considering a straight line pace with gradual (or significant improvment) until 28, then a stready level until 34, then a gradual decline until 41, then maybe.

But holy cow, that's a big IF.
As a previous answer said, it's not that different from Juan Gonzalez and Frank Thomas. (You can add in Albert Belle as well).
You may say 6 years, 250 home runs. If he plays for 18, that's 750 homers.

The trouble is when you talk about the best hitter, you still need to compare him to his peers.

Thus the + sign with all the stats.
Albert's OPS+ is 171 for his career (meaning his On base + Slugging % is 71% better than the average player)

Arod is only 145 for his career and thus no where close in his first 6 years.

Albert Belle was 155 for the first 6 full years.
Bonds is 182 for his career, and while his 4 highest totals were in the 'shoot the roids' era, he did have 2 other 200+ years (92 and 93)

But Ruth had 11 seasons over 200, and a career of 207.

I think until someone comes along that is really worth 2 full players, don't ask if someone will be the best player ever, always strive for #2.

But going back to the pace, you simply can't assume that pace will remain constant. Even trades to other teams can drastically affect your play. Heck, the trade of another player may affect you dramatically as well.

Answer 3

I've been talking about this for two years... Pujols is the best hitter in baseball, now he has a World Series ring... which is slightly irrelevant in a discussion such as this one... but I think it speaks volumes for his ability to dominate a game from the plate, he demands attention, and at any time he can put it out of the park.

He has patience, power, bat speed... overall, no glaring weaknesses when he is batting... I think had he not gotten hurt last season, with the pulled oblique muscle... he could have beaten Barry Bonds' home-run record. Even after the injury, which he returned from incredibly quick... he started right back up where he left off.

Pujols will go down as the greatest hitter ever, he has the purest swing in baseball, and his numbers do not lie, the guy is one of a kind... no one has began a career like this, and by the looks of things... he is just getting started.

Answer 4

Hitter? No way. There have been many hitters better than him, like Tony Gwynn for example, a career .338 hitter who flirted with .400. Pujols is a fantastic offensive threat who can flat out hit, but mostly for power. He isnt like Tony Gwynn who could hit any count anytime and turn a ball in the dirt into a base hit. He is a great player but not near the best all time.

Answer 5

Very doubtful that he will continue this pace throughout his career. His numbers are that different from those of Jaun Gonzalez, and Frank Thomas in the early-mid 90s.

He'll need another 5 or 6 similar seasons to even start considering the possibility.

Pujols' has 933 games played. 250 HRs, 758 RBI, .332 BA, 1159 Hits

Juan Gonzalez in his first 933 games, 256 HRs, 790 RBI, .285 BA, 1045 HIts

Frank Thomas in his first 933 games, 222 HRs, 729 RBI, .327 BA, 1079 Hits.

Answer 6

This is a very difficult question, but let's compare him to some of the greatest players ever --- Pete Rose, Ty Cobb, Tony Gwynn, and Babe Ruth.
Tony Gwynn had a career batting average of .338 with 135 HR's and 1138 RBI's. He also had 3141 career hits. He played for 20 seasons.
Pete Rose had a career batting average of .303 with 160 HR's and 1314 RBI's. He also had 4256 career hits. Played for 24 seasons.
Ty Cobb had a career batting average of .367 with 117 HR's and 1938 RBI's. He also had 4191 career hits. He played for 24 seasons.
Babe Ruth had a career batting average of .342 with 714 HR's and 2213 RBI's. He had 2873 hits and played for 22 seasons.

Now to Albert Pujols---
he has right now a career batting average of .332 with 250 HR's and 758 RBI's. He has 1159 hits and has only played for 6 seasons.

If he continues on this pace and plays for 16 more seasons (which will give him 22 total like Babe Ruth), these will be his stats - he will have around a .332 batting average (like he has now) with 917 HR's, with 2779 RBI's. 4250 hits and will play 3241 games.

Compared with the other players stats- yes, if Pujols continues at his current pace, he will one day be considered the greatest baseball player ever

Answer 7

My source has a link that has a good comparison of Albert Pujols to other strong hitters. It is about half way down the page and is in the form of a chart/box.

Answer 8

He will have to continue to be very special to surpass the likes of Ty Cobb and Ted Williams to become baseball's greatest hitters.
Cobb and Williams both hit over .400.

At his pace he will be in the top 5 worse case.

Answer 9

on his current pace there is no doubt about it. noone has been this consistent. the only other better hitter average wise is ted williams.

Answer 10

At his pace he will be the #1 hitter in histry. He will also improve a lot. I wouldn't be surprised if he has more then 5, 50HR seasons