'I think my job is to continue to pass down that along to the younger generation' Cardinals legend Albert Pujols has dreams of being a manager

ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - For many St. Louis Cardinals fans who grew up in St. Louis and are under the age of 25-years-old (including this author), there was really only one name that symbolized Cardinals baseball in the 2000s: Albert Pujols.

Pujols, one of the most feared hitters in the entire history of baseball and arguably, if not, the best hitter to ever to play baseball in the 21st century, has had a career of a lifetime, winning two World Series with the Cardinals, three National League MVPs, 11 All-Star appearances and two Gold Gloves.

Of course, his final season in baseball was a time of a lifetime for Cardinals Nation, where he returned to the Cardinals in 2022 after over a decade away from the franchise, and in his final season in baseball, he managed to achieve a goal of hitting 700 home runs, while in a Cardinals uniform.

Although he is no longer a player, Pujols still has a presence in the sport, working as an analyst for MLB Network and as a special assistant to MLB commissioner Rob Manfred. However, Pujols has even bigger dreams: he wants to be a MLB manager.

"For 23 years, I've played this game that everybody loves," said Pujols on Total Information A.M. Wednesday. "I have learned so much from so many great players and great managers in the past and I think my job is to continue to pass down that along to the younger generation that's coming up."

Pujols will get his first chance to be a manager this upcoming winter in the Dominican Winter League for Leones del Escogido. Pujols told KMOX Sports Director Tom Ackerman that he had dreams of being one even while he was playing.

"I think (Yadier Molina) and I have always talked about it," said Pujols. "When you are playing for so long, you look at the game in a different situation and different scenario."

"I think for me the relationship I built with Tony La Russa and Mike Scioscia allowed me to ask a lot of questions and when I think when you have that great relationship with the manager, it helped you out to understand the game better make you appreciate the game more and learn."

Pujols credited a ton of players and coaches who helped him learn the game better even while playing, from former teammates likes Placido Polanco, Edgar Renteria, Fernando Pena, Mark McGwire and former coaches like Dave McKay, Jose Oquendo and so much more.

"I was so blessed to play with so many great players (and coaches) early in my career in St. Louis that helped me to appreciate and learn the game so fast that something I always talk about," said Pujols. "It was great for me and my career at such a young age."