In 2001, a relatively unknown rookie named Albert Pujols was invited to major league spring training with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was there after spending most of the previous season in the Low-A Midwest League. Back then, the Cardinals and the Montreal Expos shared the same spring facilities at Roger Dean Stadium in Jupiter, Florida. That circumstance gave Pujols, then just 21 years old, a chance to be around Expos slugger Vladimir Guerrero.
Guerrero was coming off what would be the best overall offensive season in his 16-year major league career, belting 44 home runs with a remarkable slash line of .