ANAHEIM, Ca. (KMOX) — The 2011 Cardinals Spring Training was taken over by ‘Albertageddon’, the name given to the Albert Pujols contract coverage. That circus officially left town last December taking the show west to Los Angeles where the Angels have leased 70 billboards promoting their newest superstar.  According to CBS Los Angeles, the Angels’ new first baseman has an issue with about one-third of those advertisements that features his picture next to the phrase ‘EL HOMBRE’.

Pujols told reporters at the Angels Spring Training facility in Tempe, AZ. on Wednesday that he was not aware of the Angels’ plans.  He explains that he does not like being referred to as ‘The Man’, whether in Spanish or English, because that name will forever belong to Cardinals Hall of Famer Stan Musial.  Even as part of the Redbirds for 11 seasons, the nickname did not have any appeal for the three-time NL MVP.

The Angels told the Los Angeles Times that they do not normally seek approval from players about how they will be portrayed in franchise advertisement.  Tim Mead, Angels VP of Communications, said that the nickname ’El Hombre’ has a different meaning to fans in Southern California than in St. Louis.

The 70 billboards, which have other marketing messages from the Angels, are expected to come down in late March just before the start of the regular season.

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