"Shortly before noon local time Saturday, Albert Pujols slipped into a fitted Los Angeles Angels cap and a crisp home white jersey before a crowd of more than 4,000 boisterous fans.

It was 11:50 a.m. to be precise. And for the first time as a professional, the three-time National League MVP could be seen as something other than a Cardinal.

Appearing nervous during a raucous public news conference, Pujols later spoke of a "stressful" time that he acknowledged created "hurt" for his family as well as a loyal fan base he left behind.

Saturday's appearance was part of a two-day ritual following Pujols' Thursday morning acceptance of a 10-year, $254 million contract, the second-most lucrative deal in the game's history. Following his public introduction, Pujols spoke of a process more about acceptance than finance while his wife, Deidre, described a decision flecked by personal angst as well as relief and happiness.

"I don't want to talk about negotiations," Pujols told the Post-Dispatch shortly after a second news conference held inside the stadium. "But to tell you the truth, it wasn't about the money. I'm going to die saying that, because it wasn't about the money. It was about the commitment."

Pujols refused to discuss his departure from the Cardinals during the open-air phase of Saturday's appearance but later described a process that included eight phone conversations Wednesday with chairman Bill DeWitt Jr. and general manager John Mozeliak. The marathon left Pujols drained, admittedly emotional and finally resigned to the fact that Angels' owner Arte Moreno's long-distance lightning strike offered a greater sense of belonging as well as more dollars.

"It was about the way he made me feel," Pujols said. "Arte made me feel like he wanted me to be with the Angels forever. He doesn't want me to be 37 years old and go somewhere else.""