Albert Pujols almost retired before reaching historic 700 HR mark

Future Hall of Famer Albert Pujols has enjoyed a career renaissance after returning to the St. Louis Cardinals to finish his Major League career back where it started in 2001. 

Pujols recently joined the game's immortals, surpassing 700 home runs for his career while helping lead the Cardinals to an NL Central title. 

However, Pujols' remarkable second-half run almost didn't happen. 

During Pujols' retirement ceremony last week, he mentioned that, at times, he questioned if he'd play the entire season. In an interview with MLB.com, Pujols revealed that those feelings were genuine. 

"No, I did, I swear I did," Pujols said. "There were some times when I [asked] myself that, many times." 

On June 4, Pujols was batting a season-low .202 with just four home runs and 15 RBI. However, despite his uncertainty, Pujols decided to power on, and the rest, as they say, is history. 

"I decided, 'I'm going to stick with it!'" Pujols said. "I knew sooner or later it was going to come and turn around for me, because it can't be like it was all year long." 

On Sunday, Pujols smashed career home run No. 702 while tying Babe Ruth for second-all-time in RBI. 

Pujols ended his 22nd and final season in baseball batting .270/.345/.550 with 24 home runs and 68 RBI. 

This isn't the last we've seen of Pujols, as he and the Cardinals open up their postseason run Friday at 2:07 p.m., hosting the Philadelphia Phillies.