Probably the same reason
Albert Pools plays baseball.
That and 700 homers and chasing championships
and being around yadda everyday.
The experiment is working.
Albert crushes lefties and has been
a good mentor to the younger players.
This week.
His foundation raised some more
money for people with Down syndrome
and that's where we caught up
with Albert at top golf.
Albert is our Sunday conversation.
I don't think I've ever asked you this,
but what's the proudest thing for
you about the foundation about
what you've accomplished? I think
for me is the grow you know to
see the growth, the awareness you
know to see the life that we have
changing through the foundation,
you know. Because people,
dedication and donating and spending time
and really trusting their foundation.
I think for me that's something
that is is unchangeable.
Unbelievable, you know.
And you know the mission
trip to to see the story.
You know the daughter coming back and.
They just want to go again
and again and again.
You know, for the last 17 years
it's been pretty unbelievable.
Is that more important than
your Hall of Fame career?
I think for me, yeah,
because that's that's
something that they give.
If I wouldn't have the gift and this
ability the guy has given me to perform
and to do whatever I do in the field,
I don't think I would be able to have this,
you know, and I think I think it's.
I look at it,
what can you do with a gift?
And this is the gift that God has given me.
This is the platform and I'll be
able to take advantage for his
king then and gonna continue to
do that because that's my calling,
you know.
So at the end of the day,
I'm not disrespecting my career
because I I'm I'm.
I don't wanna go there but I think
you know the life that you touch
at the end and the light that you
change through the foundation and
the people you know they they they
make a difference in the community.
I think you know that's.
That's the gift that you
get. What is it like for you?
Every place you go to get these ovations?
I mean you I can't remember
many athletes maybe like Kobe
at the end of his career,
but this is quite a swan song,
isn't it? That's pretty
awesome. I think you know it's part of.
You know how I go about my business?
You know, representing dangana baseball
just the same way that so many people have
taught me and I think at the end of the day.
Yes, you know it's been an amazing career,
but I think to be able to accomplish that.
I had so many people that I need
to get credits. Coaches, Manager,
teammates you know family and those
are the things you know to me that as
I go around man, I really sinking in.
You know, like hey,
this is my last sign that I'm gonna
be wearing uniform coming through
this locker room like New York.
You know from Miami you know what I mean?
San Francisco?
So those are the things that I enjoy.
I get to enjoy most but the most.
The most.
The thing that I'm enjoying is to be
around all these young athlete right now,
and players that we have on
our team and our organization.
They want to learn and wanna pick
my brain and I love that because
those are those guys are our future.
And yes, as we celebrate,
you know myself, Jody,
probably last year went
right maybe last year,
but our main goal is always win the
championship so our focus is still there.
So we are pretty good blocking those
things and make sure that we prepare
ourselves and nothing gets in our way.
One last one I think you
probably just answered the bill,
but if I'm a genie and I can.
Offer you 700 or world championship. What do
you take it worse? I'm just saying
I'm OK with 699 I'm OK with 682 I'm
OK with whatever else I end up finish
out but winning a championship as
you know that's really tough to come.
And yeah, getting 700 is tough too
so but I think you know everybody
wants to win a championship so for
me if I don't get that my son but I
get that championship ring toss me.
I'd be really really satisfied.
I trade that in a heartbeat.
I try any award that I have.
And my and my traffic going for
a championship trophy again.
Once again, you know,
because it's just that's what you
play for and it's hard to get.
It's hard to get to the worst.
It's you have to get to the postseason,
but it's even harder to win one, you know.
I mean, there's so many players
that played this game for so long
and they never accomplished that,
and for me to accomplish that.
And a young age, I get to appreciate that.
And, you know, to have that feeling,
hopefully to get it back this
year with the team that we have,
it's really gonna be better.