Albert Pujols hits career home runs No. 661 and 662, passes Willie Mays for fifth place on all-time list

Adding yet another bullet to his Hall of Fame plaque, Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols hit his 661st and 662nd career home runs Friday night, passing Willie Mays for fifth on baseball's all-time list.

Pujols took Texas Rangers relief pitcher Wes Benjamin deep in the fifth inning for the historic homer, breaking a tie with Mays at 660 career home runs. Then, two innings later, Pujols added No. 662, which came off of Demarcus Evans.

“I knew that whenever it happens, whether it was going to be this year or next year, it was going to happen,” he said. “I definitely wasn’t thinking about trying to hit one out. It happened tonight and look how perfect it worked out. I not only got one, but two on the night.”

Pujols now trails only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714) and Alex Rodriguez (696).

“It is pretty special when you are talking about Willie Mays. What he did on the field is amazing,” Pujols said. “He’s a legend, pretty smart and he knows how to give good advice.”

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The 40-year-old Pujols, playing in his 20th season, began his career with 12 consecutive years with at least 30 home runs, averaging 40 a season with a .325 average from 2001-2012.

Pujols was named NL MVP three times with the Cardinals (2005, 2008, 2009) and finished runner-up on four other occasions. He won World Series titles with the team in 2006 and 2011 before signing a 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels before the 2012 season.

His productivity largely declined with the Angels (.258/.314/.450 from 2012-2019), but Pujols has continued to pad his power numbers with the team. He is due $30 million in 2021, the final year of his contract.

“He is such a good baseball player,” Angels manager Joe Maddon said. “So yeah, he hits home runs. We’re not seeing it during his youthful days, but this guy has played this game as well as anybody has.”

Pujols recorded his 3,000th career hit in 2018 and is baseball's active leader in career hits, runs and RBI.

Contributing: The Associated Press.