“He is the whole package as far as a player. He commits to defense just like he does offense. He has natural talent. He’s a young guy, very smart, very tough-minded.”
—Former Cardinals manager Tony La Russa

"He’s so strong between the ears that nothing fazes him."
—La Russa

"He is really a great player. We're lucky to watch him."
—La Russa

"He just hits line drives that go out of the park. That's why he's a .330 hitter. He's a great hitter. He catches it, and it goes. He's a high-average hitter with power."
—La Russa

“I was shocked with Albert. I played with him a little in St. Louis. I never thought he'd leave. … I found out early in the morning (that he'd agreed to the deal). I got a few text messages. I woke my wife up to tell her we got Alber.”
—Teammate Dan Haren

“I don't know how anybody could ever be better than he is. Ever. No offense to Henry Aaron and all those guys. I'm sorry, Hank. Albert Pujols is really, really good.”
—Former teammate Adam Wainwright

“He has a passion for the game, a love for the game. You can see it. You can sense it. He’s got natural God-given ability. A natural baseball player. A warrior. The man is good at every little thing he does.”
—Former Cardinals hitting coach Mike Easler

“He stands there like a man. They didn’t teach him fear at home, where he grew up. It’s not part of his bag.”
—Former Giants manager Felipe Alou

"He’s a freak. There’s no awe in his eyes.”
—Former teammate Fernando Vina

“I’ve never seen anything like it. He’s quick to the ball with his bat, he hits to all fields, he rarely goes out of the strike sone, and no situation seems to rattle him.”
—Former Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon

“You don’t have to scout a guy like Albert. He draws attention to himself. He has such inner confidence, without being cocky.”
—Tigers manager Jim Leyland

“His approach is so mature at the plate. He doesn’t get himself out.”
—Former teammate Scott Rolen

“He’s focused in everything he does, from hitting to running down the line. He doesn’t go through the motions.”
—Hall of Famer Red Schoendienst

“I believe he’s been reincarnated, that he played before, in the ‘20s and ‘30s, and he’s back to prove something.”
—Former teammate Mark McGwire

“Lefthander, righthander, soft thrower, power guy, fastballs away, fastballs in—he doesn’t have any holes.”
—Former teammate Tino Martinez

“He has the best work habits I’ve ever seen out of a young kid. He takes nothing for granted.”
—Cardinals hitting coach Mitchell Page

“Talk to him for 10 minutes. He’s an excellent human being—kind, gentle, caring. He’s an amazing ballplayer who would never say he’s amazing.”
—Albert’s wife Deidre

"He’s the top right-handed hitter in the game."
—Hall of Famer Stan Musial

"He could play in anybody's day. He's just a terrific ballplayer."
—Hall of Famer Hank Aaron

"Before he’s done we might be saying he’s the best of them all."
—Former Reds and Tigers manager Sparky Anderson

"A lot of guys who can hit don’t give a flip about defense. He’s never satisfied."
—Former teammate Jason Isringhausen

"He knows what he wants to do with the ball. He knows what a pitcher is trying to do to him. He knows."
—Former AL batting champ Hal McRae

"I know Roberto is looking down at the work all of these players are doing to help others, and I know he is very proud that people like Albert are creating your own legacy as a great humanitarian."
—Vera Clemente

“He’s a fabulous representative of the game.”
—Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson

"The guy’s a once-in-a-generation player."
—Former eammate Matt Holliday

"Just to be a teammate of his when he did something like that, that’s something I’m going to be able to tell my kids and grandkids, that I actually witnessed that in person."
—Former teammate Lance Lynn

“Lincoln at Gettysburg. Hendrix at Woodstock. Pujols at Arlington. It was, quite simply, the greatest night by one player in the history of the 620 World Series games ever played.”
—Writer and analyst Tom Verducci

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