Big Papi, Jeter convey congrats

In the hours after Albert Pujols hit his 500th career homer, his cellphone kept buzzing early into Wednesday morning.

There were texts and calls from the likes of fellow players David Ortiz and Derek Jeter. And there was a conversation with his first manager in the big leagues, Tony La Russa.

"I talked to Tony last night for 25 minutes," Pujols said before his Los Angeles Angels played the Washington Nationals on Wednesday night. "He kept mentioning 2001, Day 1, when I was making the ballclub and all that."