Pujols is a Hall of Fame human

ANAHEIM, Calif._The career is legendary, so the origin story might as well be too.

Albert Pujols lets his bat speak for him. That Pujols could not secure his first major league roster spot until Mark McGwire spoke up for him must be myth.

True story, McGwire says. Pujols was 21, and his professional career consisted of one year as the third baseman for the Peoria Chiefs. He reported to the St. Louis Cardinals' camp the following spring, spraying line drives wherever he went. He was, as they say, a natural.

This was 2001, when managers still had the final say on their roster. McGwire lobbied Tony La Russa intensely: Keep Pujols in St. Louis. Then Bobby