Fans reward St. Louis’ Goldschmidt for tremendous season with All-Star game selection
Typically, when a team’s first baseman is named to the All-Star team, it’s a strong indication of a humming offense at the heart of a should-be contender.
What does it say, then, when a team sends two first sackers to the Midsummer Classic?
The St. Louis Cardinals now officially can start unraveling that riddle, as Major League Baseball announced Friday that Paul Goldschmidt was voted by the fans to be the National League’s starter at first on Tuesday, July 19, at Dodger Stadium. In addition, commissioner Rob Mandred named Albert Pujols to the NL roster.
Goldschmidt is the runaway favorite for the NL’s Most Valuable Player award. He leads the senior circuit in runs, hits, batting average, slugging percentage, and total bases. He also leads the Majors in on base percentage.
This assignment marks his seventh career All-Star game and his first since 2018 — making it, therefore, his first as a Cardinal, despite having finished in the Top 20 in MVP voting in each of his three prior seasons in St. Louis.
Nolan Arenado was a finalist at third base, losing out in the last round of voting to San Diego’s Manny Machado. He’s a near lock to be named to the team Sunday when full rosters are announced. Shortstop Tommy Edman, closer Ryan Helsley and starter Miles Mikolas are also strong candidates for selection.
Pujols — along with Detroit’s Miguel Cabrera — was named to the game as a special commissioner’s selection in honor of his distinguished career. A codicil in the new collective bargaining agreement grants that power to Manfred, and in Pujols’s last season, one of the greatest hitters of all time is assured of being given a moment to shine on one of baseball’s brightest stages.
Padres legend Tony Gwynn was named to the team in 2001 — his final season — under similar circumstances.
“I am delighted that Albert Pujols and Miguel Cabrera have agreed to participate in the All-Star Game,” Manfred said in a statement. “Albert and Miguel are two of the most accomplished players of their generation. They have also represented the baseball traditions of the Dominican Republic and Venezuela with excellence for the last two decades. Albert and Miguel are two all-time greats whose achievements warrant this special recognition.”
Being named to the game also allows Pujols to return to southern California, where he spent 10 years with the Angels and the end of last season with the Dodgers. It’s Pujols’s first time at the game since 2015, which was his only selection as an Angel.
It’s his 10th All-Star Game in 12 seasons as a Cardinal, with 2002 and 2011 standing as the outliers.