In a recent episode of , future Hall of Fame first baseman Albert Pujols discu sed how his former manager, Tony La Ru sa, taught him a valuable le son in his rookie season, one that he would never forget.Ron Darling and Jimmy Rollins' new podcast on Audacy, , explores the game's history and culture of unwritten rules, while speaking with players past and present.Pujols joined Darling and Rollins last week to discu s the Jaycee Horn Jersey impact La Ru sa had on him in his rookie year. One day, in the team's kitchen, La Ru sa asked Pujols a tough question.He asked me So Albert, Im going to tell you something," Pujols said. "What do you prefer: 30 home runs or hit .300? And I was like 30 home runs, Tony. Everybody wants to hit the ball out of the ballpark. Bzzzz. Rookie mistake. I want you to focus on hitting . Alex Erickson Jersey 300. Because if you focus on Greg Olsen Jersey hitting .300, I bet you youre going to get your 30 home runs. I bet you youre going to get your 100 RBI. And that was the case.La Ru sa told Pujols to value contact hitting and putting the ball in play, offering that the home runs and RBI would come.That season, Pujols would slash .329/.403/1.013 with 37 home runs and 130 RBI, finishing fourth in National League MVP voting, while winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award.He never gave me the opportunity to think about the question that he was giving me," Pujols said. "But if you Wesley Walls look at it, if you really focus on hitting .300, how many chances are you going to have with men in scoring position and chance to drive runs and do some damage? A lot. Youre going to get more hits. Youre going to hit .300.Pujols would attribute La Ru sa's advice to his incredible rookie season, one that he would never look back from.He would also go on to describe La Ru sa as a father figure in his life.Our relationship is like a father and son, 23 years later. And our Carolina Panthers Home Office relationship back then in 2001, I felt it hasnt changed. If anything its getting stronger and stronger every year. , pa sing Alex Rodriguez for fourth on the all-time list.