Alfonso Soriano
A fearsome power hitter who launched over 400 home runs with a unique batting stance, becoming one of the most dynamic and unpredictable players of his era.
Born 1976 (age 50)·Dominican baseball player·Birthday: January 7·Generation X
Biography
Alfonso Soriano played baseball with a thrilling, unorthodox style that made him a must-watch talent. Signed by the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, he quickly made his mark in Japan before the New York Yankees brought him to the majors. In pinstripes, his explosive combination of speed and raw power was fully unleashed; he became the fourth player ever to join the 40-40 club (40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in a season) in 2006. His signature move—a deep, dramatic leg kick before swinging—defied coaching manuals but produced astonishing results. While his defensive home shifted between second base and left field, his bat always spoke loudest. Later, with the Chicago Cubs, he signed a major contract and delivered several seasons of prodigious power, cementing his reputation as a player who could change a game with one violent, elegant swing.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Alfonso was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alfonso Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Alfonso's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Could drive
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1994Could vote
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Turned 21
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Achieved a 40-40 season in 2006 with the Washington Nationals, hitting 46 home runs and stealing 41 bases.
- Selected as an All-Star seven times during his 16-season MLB career.
- Finished his career with 412 home runs and 289 stolen bases, a rare power-speed combination.
- Won the Silver Slugger Award four times at second base.
Did You Know?
He began his professional career in Japan, playing for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp before coming to MLB.
Soriano was originally signed by the New York Yankees as a shortstop.
He led the American League in runs scored twice (2002, 2005).
In 2003, he was the All-Star Game MVP while playing for the New York Yankees.
“I just try to hit the ball hard and run fast.”
