CINCINNATI, OHIO – AUGUST 31: Joey Votto #19 of the Cincinnati Reds presents Albert Pujols #5 of the St. Louis Cardinals with a baseball bat during a ceremony in honor of Pujols’ retirement before the game at Great American Ball Park on August 31, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Cincinnati Reds star Joey Votto honored St. Louis Cardinals legends Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina prior to their series finale on Aug. 31.
On Aug. 31, the St. Louis Cardinals played in Cincinnati for the final time this season, as they completed their three-game series against the Reds. This meant it was the final time that Albert Pujols and Yadier Molina would play as members of the opposing team against the Reds, as both are going to retire at the end of this season.
Cincinnati first baseman Joey Votto honored both Pujols and Molina in a tweet prior to the game, asking those to join him “in appreciation for the experience of playing against two of baseball’s greats.”
Joey Votto honors Albert Pujols, Yadier Molina ahead of Cardinals-Reds game
Prior to the start of the game, Votto and manager David Bell presented both Pujols and Molina with personalized baseball bats. Molina’s gift was given to pitcher Adam Wainwright, as he was warming up in the bullpen during the festivities.
Pujols has been red-hot in the month of August. Not only has he recorded a .393 batting average and a 1.335 OPS entering Wednesday’s game, but he hit eight home runs, bringing him to a career total of 694. He is just six homers shy of becoming the fourth player ever to hit 700 career home runs.
In his 19th season with the Cardinals, Molina is slashing .200/.220/.255 while recording two home runs, 12 RBI, and 40 hits 59 games.
This was the last time that Pujols and Molina stepped on the field at Great American Ball Park, and Votto wanted to honor the two baseball legends.