Albert Pujols did the unthinkable in the minds of many St. Louis fans. He left the only franchise for whom he had played and signed a massive 10-year $254 million contract with the Angels. Cardinals fans felt even more disrespected when GM John Mozeliak said Pujols did not give St. Louis a chance to match or top the Angels’ offer. The news that Pujols left the franchise, fans, and city he claimed to love, for more money, has the people in St. Louis irate.
One sports apparel chain decided to send a message by giving away their remaining Pujols gear for free.
“It’s not about the money,” Pro Image store owner Paul Russo explained. “Just like Albert said. Except he lied, and we didn’t.”
Russo says his Pro Image stores in St. Louis stopped purchasing Pujols apparel weeks ago because they knew there was a possibility he would sign elsewhere. They reportedly had given away nearly all of their stock — 150 shirts and jerseys — in a matter of hours. I guess it’s a small consolation prize to fans who just lost their franchise icon. Personally, we think this would have been the best use of the leftover jerseys.
