Andy Marte
A power-hitting prospect whose career was tragically cut short, he became a symbol of potential unfulfilled and a beloved figure in Dominican baseball.
1983–2017 (age 34)·Dominican baseball player·Birthday: October 21·Millennials
Biography
Born in the Dominican Republic, Andy Marte was groomed for stardom from a young age, signing with the Atlanta Braves as an international free agent in 2000. He quickly ascended prospect rankings, hailed for his smooth fielding at third base and potent right-handed bat. His major league journey, however, became a lesson in the sport's harsh realities. Touted as a future cornerstone, he was traded to the Boston Red Sox and then to the Cleveland Indians, where he saw the most extensive playing time of his career. Despite flashes of the power that made him a top prospect, consistency at the plate proved elusive. After stints with Arizona and in the Korean Baseball Organization, Marte returned home to play winter ball. His life ended abruptly in a 2017 car accident, leaving the baseball world to mourn not just a player, but the poignant narrative of what might have been.
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.
Andy was born in 1983, 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 Andy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Andy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2017Died at 34
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
Key Achievements
- Ranked as the number one prospect in the Atlanta Braves organization by Baseball America in 2005.
- Hit a career-high 15 home runs for the Cleveland Indians during the 2010 MLB season.
- Played professionally in three major leagues: MLB (USA), KBO (Korea), and the Dominican Winter League.
Did You Know?
He was traded for fellow Dominican star shortstop Edgar Rentería in a 2005 deal between the Braves and Red Sox.
In his final professional season, he played for the KT Wiz in South Korea's KBO league.
He was killed in a traffic collision in his hometown of San Francisco de Macorís.
He hit a grand slam for the Cleveland Indians on Opening Day in 2010.
“You have to prove yourself every single day in this game.”
