Hollywood Blvd. News – Los Angeles Angels Edition
- Updated: July 14, 2015
(Photo via Twitter User @SportsCenter)
In case you missed it, or you were living under a rock in MLB land, the Home Run Derby was last night. It was full of W-I-L-D Cincinnati Reds fans and the who’s-who of baseball, all in one place. The best part though came when Albert Pujols represented the Los Angeles Angels, and fought for his place in the Finals.
He easily won the award for “Greatest Guy of the Night!’
Pujols made it out of the first round to meet up with Joc Pederson of the Dodgers as they both put on their best show in the hopes of advancing. The best moment, as agreed to by many, of the night didn’t come at the plate. Instead it was the interaction between AP and JP after the round was complete.
Joc Pederson greeted Pujols with a congratulatory hug, but wait this still isn’t the best part. The Angels’ hero then met Pederson’s older brother, Champ. Champ has Down’s Syndrome, which is something very close to the heart of Pujols, who’s daughter, Isabella, also has Down’s Syndrome.
When AP met Champ, he gave him the biggest bear hug TV has every witnessed (guessing, but I’d believe it). Check out the exchange below:
Class acts. #HRDerby pic.twitter.com/EP2ht5l369
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 14, 2015
But wait a second, this isn’t the first time the two gems have met. ForTheWin.com reports the following:
“Earlier this year, Yahoo Sports’ Tim Brown wrote about Champ’s first time meeting Pujols, at a film screening of Where Hope Grows, a movie about baseball and Down syndrome:
“You’re my favorite player,” [Champ] said, well within earshot of Joc.
“Champ,” Shelly said, “your brother…”
“Nope,” Champ said. “Albert Pujols.”
He asked for a jersey.
Pujols laughed.
“They’re pretty special kids,” he said.
Three days later, the Angels hosted the Dodgers. When Pederson subbed into the game at first base as a pinch runner, Pujols was waiting for him.
“I have Champ’s jersey,” Pujols told him. “I’ll be sure it gets to you.”
It was in a box, on the bus, before the Angels left for Tempe.
“I was kind of shocked,” Joc said. “A lot of people say stuff and don’t follow through.”
And that’s how, on a night when the Home Run Derby found its groove again, Albert Pujols came out as the real winner.
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