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Posted by: Bradley McDonald

This story should tell you a little more about the character of this Houston team. While I was in meltdown mode after Pujols home run, the team was laughing it off.

After Pujols put a dagger through their hearts with that ninth-inning, two-out, three-run homer against closer Brad Lidge to steal away Game 5 and prevent the Astros from clinching their first-ever World Series berth in Minute Maid Park, they boarded their charter flight midday Tuesday

Catcher Brad Ausmus had hatched a plan, obtained approval from Astros management and delivered it safely to their pilot.

While the rest of America talked about how devastated the Astros must have been and wondered whether they would appear on the Busch Stadium field for Game 6 disguised as a bowl of Jell-O, something entirely different was happening in the friendly skies.

According to Ausmus, several minutes after takeoff, the pilot said something pretty close to this over the plane's public address system: "We've reached our cruising altitude of 35,000 feet. I've turned off the fasten seatbelt sign and turned off the cabin lights. If you look to the left of the aircraft, in the next two or three minutes you might be able to catch a glimpse of Albert Pujols' home run ball."

If only the rest of us could have heard the roar.

Not to be outdone by Cardinal Curry, I bring to you visuals!




Roy Wonder












"The Great Pujols."
Strike Three.
Bye-Bye.
(He did hit a shot right at the shortstop in the late innings, although he ended the night 0-4. I'd still like to borrow him for a week.)

















My favorite picture. Biggio and Bagwell with the trophy.