Albert Pujols Home Run Derby history: How many times has Cardinals slugger won MLB contest?

Kevin Skiver

Albert Pujols Home Run Derby history: How many times has Cardinals slugger won MLB contest? image

Albert Pujols didn't have a ton of pop in his bat at the end of his career, but the 42-year-old Cardinals slugger participated in the 2022 Home Run Derby as the active home run leader at the time.

Pujols made some history in Los Angeles, as his 685 home runs at the time were the most for a competing player, edging out Barry Bonds' 681.

The two-time World Series champion participated in MLB's marquee summer event four times, in 2003, 2007, 2009 and 2015, and he has 106 career homers in the derby.

Pujols never won the Home Run Derby, but he did have a runner-up finish in 2003. Here's a look at his results in baseball's slugfest through the years.

MORE: Home Run Derby winners by year: Complete list of MLB players to win since 1985

Albert Pujols in the 2003 Home Run Derby

Pujols was incredibly impressive in his Derby debut 22 years ago. After barely eking out a first-round win over Gary Sheffield with four homers (he advanced because of a higher season home run total), he defeated Jason Giambi in the semifinals 14-11.

In the final, Pujols lost 9-8 to Garret Anderson and had to settle for second place.

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Albert Pujols in the 2007 Home Run Derby

Pujols again eked out a first-round win with four homers as he owned a tiebreaker over Matt Holiday.

But he was eliminated in the semis after tying Vladimir Guerrero with nine home runs. Totals at that time carried over, so Pujols lost 14-13.

MORE: Has anyone won more than one Home Run Derby? Ken Griffey Jr., Pete Alonso lead list

Albert Pujols in the 2009 Home Run Derby

This derby was conducted under a new format, but Pujols was a 4-seed once again. He made it out of the first round after winning a tiebreaking swing-off against Carlos Peña.

He then went up against Prince Fielder in Round 2. Fielder and Pujols hit six home runs each in the round, but Pujols again was eliminated via carryover tiebreaker.

MORE: Home Run Derby records: Most home runs hit in a single round, year in MLB history

Albert Pujols in the 2015 Home Run Derby

Hitting for the first time in a true bracket format, Pujols edged out Kris Bryant 10-9 in the first round.

He went on to lose to Joc Pederson 12-11 in the semifinals. Todd Frazier defeated Pederson in the final to claim the Home Run Derby crown.

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Kevin Skiver

Kevin Skiver has been a content producer at Sporting News since 2021. He previously worked at CBS Sports as a trending topics writer, and now writes various pieces on MLB, the NFL, the NBA, and college sports. He enjoys hiking and eating, not necessarily in that order.