Albert Pujols, The Rocket Man

On April third, my wife and I attended the Phillies home opener at Citizens Bank Ballpark. The Phillies were facing the St. Louis Cardinals. And what was clearly a win for the Cardinals on paper, was also a clear win for them on the field as well.

The game was at 3:05 EST., and though the day started with the sun shining, it wasted no time hiding behind rain clouds about fifteen minutes before the Phillies took the field.

The bad weather did not stop the traditional fly by, by the United States Air Force, nor did it stop the awesome display of the parachuting skill of the Navy Leap Frogs, who gracefully glided themselves into the ballpark to the wide-eyed amazement of the dazzled crowd.

But what was equally impressive on that chilly, rainy day, came in the late innings when the game was out of hand and after the former Phillie Scott Rolen got the best of the home crowd with a Grand Slam. It came when Albert Pujols hit his second home run of the game.

Even though I am a Phillies fan, I received nothing but complete awe and amazement of watching that ball leave the bat of Albert Pujols like it was a tomahawk cruise missile leaving the deck of a U.S. Destroyer in the Gulf.

I was completely amazed. I have seen dozens of home runs but nothing like this. If you blinked, you would have missed it leave the park.

I can’t imagine what would have happened if the upper deck of Citizens bank Ballpark had not gotten in the way of that ball. It more than likely would have ended up in the upper deck of Oriole Park in Camden Yard. It was headed that way.