Stlcardinals.com
July 4, 2001

Cardinals' Pujols, Morris Become All-Stars

By Derek Glanz

The first time that Matt Morris and Albert Pujols of the St. Louis Cardinals emerged as a duo was on April 27, when Morris shut out the Mets for seven innings and Pujols ripped two RBI doubles in a Cardinals victory before 40,674 fans at Busch Stadium.

It was just the second homestand of the year for St. Louis, but Morris and Pujols were fast distinguishing themselves amongst the brightest young stars in baseball.

Now Pujols and Morris will now be baptized into superstardom together at the 2001 All-Star Game in Seattle.

"It will be cool, me and Albert, where everything is new to both of us," said Morris. "I just want to have fun with it ... We're both going to be real nervous, walking around not knowing what to do. I'm definitely glad to have someone I can do that with."

"I was thinking today at the hotel, last year I was watching (the All-Star Game) in A ball and this year I'm going be there," said Pujols at Miller Park in Milwaukee. "I'm just glad. I've been blessed and I thank God to give me an opportunity and the strength to be playing in the All-Star Game."

Pujols tied a Major-League rookie record the first month of the season with eight homers. He has hit safely in 60 of his 77 starts this season. He already has tied the Cardinals' rookie home run record with 21 home runs, which was set 48 years ago by Ray Jablonski.

Pujols almost did play for the big club. Pujols owed his break to the misfortune of others.

As Cardinals Manager Tony La Russa always says, "When somebody goes down, the only silver lining is that somebody else gets the chance to play."

Pujols filled out the Cardinals' Opening Day roster because Bobby Bonilla was injured and the team needed a right-handed bat to face several lefties at the start of the season.

"I don't think making (the All-Star team is) better than making (the Cardinals)," said Pujols. "I think that was the best thing for me so far. I'm just going to go like everybody else and have fun," said Pujols. "You still have to go and do your job, but just go have fun against a great group of guys."

The first Cardinals rookie position player to be named an All-Star since 1945, Pujols currently ranks sixth in the league in batting (.345), eighth in home runs and ninth in RBIs (66). He leads the Cardinals in average and RBIs and is tied with J.D. Drew for the club home run lead.

Pujols was not listed on the actual ballots, but fans took note of his All-Star year: he received over 100,000 write-in votes to lead all candidates.

Morris, 27, is having this fantastic first half in which he leads the club in wins (10-4) and ranks third in the league in ERA (2.65) after not having made a start in nearly two years. Morris spent all of 1999 on the shelf after Tommy John Surgery and spent last season in the bullpen.

He knows that everyday competition is a privilege, not a right. He, too, reflected on the honor.

"Last year I came off an elbow injury and it feels good just to be on the mound," he said. It feels even better to be on the All-Star team."

His 90-plus sinker and the return of his once devastating overhand curveball have been too much for National League batters. Morris' 2.65 ERA ranks third in the league. He has walked 28 batters while having 78 strikeouts in 112 innings. He has lasted seven innings in 11 of his 17 start, which is best on the team.

"To come back as a starting pitcher and to be 10-4 right now with a good ERA, and now the All-Star Game, is something that I didn't picture."