Andrew Bailey (baseball)
A relief pitcher whose meteoric rookie season as a closer was cut short by injury, leading to a second act as a sought-after pitching coach.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American baseball player and coach·Birthday: May 31·Millennials
Biography
Andrew Bailey’s baseball story is one of brilliant, fleeting dominance and a resilient pivot. Drafted in the sixth round out of Wagner College, he exploded onto the scene with the Oakland Athletics in 2009. With a sharp cutter and quiet confidence, he seized the closer's role and didn't let go, saving 26 games and earning an All-Star selection and the American League Rookie of the Year award. He repeated as an All-Star in 2010, establishing himself as one of the game's most promising young relievers. Then, the injuries began—a Tommy John surgery, then issues with his shoulder and thumb. His playing career became a grind of rehab and comebacks with multiple teams, including a World Series ring with the Boston Red Sox in 2013, though he was sidelined for the playoffs. When his body finally said no, his baseball mind said yes. He transitioned swiftly into coaching, valued for his experience and insight, and by 2024 was named the pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox, tasked with guiding a new generation of arms.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Andrew was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andrew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Andrew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
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
1997Became a teenager
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
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the American League Rookie of the Year Award in 2009 after recording 26 saves and a 1.84 ERA for the Oakland Athletics.
- Selected as an American League All-Star in both 2009 and 2010 as the Athletics' primary closer.
- Earned a World Series championship ring with the Boston Red Sox in 2013, despite missing the postseason due to injury.
- Appointed pitching coach for the Boston Red Sox in 2024 after serving in advisory and coaching roles with multiple organizations.
Did You Know?
He was a two-way player in college at Wagner, also playing outfield and hitting .330 as a senior.
Bailey underwent Tommy John surgery in 2012 and a major shoulder surgery in 2014, battling back to pitch in the majors after both.
He and his wife welcomed twins in 2013, with the births occurring just days after he underwent his season-ending shoulder surgery.
“You either get the last three outs or you don't; there's no mystery to it.”
