Throughout his prolific career, Albert Pujols has achieved the highest level a professional baseball player can attain. Now, Pujols will accept the highest award for sportsmanship – the Stan Musial Lifetime Achievement Award – at the 2022 Musial Awards presented by Maryville University on Nov. 19 at Stifel Theatre in St. Louis. The special award, given as the pinnacle honor at the Musial Awards, recognizes high-profile sports figures who have embodied class, dignity, generosity, integrity, and excellence over the course of their careers.
The nationally televised show annually celebrates the year’s greatest moments of sportsmanship and those in sports who exemplify class and character. It is named for St. Louis Cardinals legend Stan Musial, a beloved baseball icon and civic ambassador, who was the ultimate good sport. Making the honor more special this year is the fact that Pujols and Musial had a special friendship and bond as both earned icon status for an entire generation of fans with grace, humility, and brilliance.
The Musial Family said, “We are overjoyed that Albert will accept the Musial Lifetime Achievement Award as his career has paralleled our father’s in so many ways, and they were such good friends who shared a love of baseball, people, and making someone’s day. Albert has always been so gracious and respectful in everything he does – and to our family. We know dad is looking down on Albert with a huge smile and a rendition of ‘Take Me Out To The Ballgame’ on the harmonica.”
Pujols’ on-field accomplishments speak for themselves – just like Musial’s. But also like Musial, Pujols is remembered as much for his off-field benevolence as his statistical magnificence. Both men valued treating people with kindness and respect. Both were revered as great teammates. Both men played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball, so it is fitting that in 2022, Pujols is honored with an award named for Stan the Man standing for civility, humanity, and using the power of sports and celebrity for good. Establishing the Pujols Family Foundation in 2005, Pujols has consistently sought to help those living with Down Syndrome and improve the lives of the impoverished in his native Dominican Republic.
“I’ve always had the most profound respect for Stan The Man and appreciated the way he carried himself as a player and a person,” said Pujols. “As wonderful as my baseball career has been, I aspire to be remembered for my true passion which is to serve others and give back. To be recognized for being a good person off the field just like Stan was, with an award that bears his name, is one of the highest honors of my career.”
Previous recipients of the Stan Musial Lifetime Achievement Award for Sportsmanship include Wayne & Janet Gretzky, Hank Aaron, Bart Conner & Nadia Comaneci, Jim Thome, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Cal Ripken, Jr., Arnold Palmer, and Joe Torre.
“We are so grateful to Albert for accepting this honor, and it’s so appropriate that his farewell season will be capped by him receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award named for Stan the Man,” said Marc Schreiber, executive producer of the Musial Awards and incoming president of the St. Louis Sports Commission. “We’re also thrilled that our other Musial Award recipients, who have shown extraordinary sportsmanship, will have the chance to share the stage and be recognized alongside Albert. What a wonderful way to affirm their remarkable acts of kindness, class and character. It will be a tremendously special night at Stifel Theatre on Nov. 19.”
Tickets for the Musial Awards range from $10 to $35 and are on sale through Ticketmaster. In addition to individual awards show tickets, the Musial Awards offers a special Honoree Circle ticket, which includes a seat in the orchestra level, a pass to the Musial Awards After Party, and reserved parking for $125. All-inclusive packages and sponsorships are also available. More information and a link to purchase tickets is available at MusialAwards.com/tickets.
The Musial Awards will air throughout the country on CBS on Saturday, Dec. 24. This is the fourth consecutive year the network will broadcast the most important awards in sports.
All recipients of the 2022 Musial Awards will be announced later this month.
