Brandon Moss
A power-hitting journeyman who delivered clutch postseason home runs for small-market teams, becoming an unlikely All-Star.
Born 1983 (age 43)·American baseball player·Birthday: September 16·Millennials
Biography
Brandon Moss's baseball career was a testament to persistence and late-blooming power. Drafted by the Boston Red Sox, he struggled to find a permanent role early on, bouncing between organizations. His breakthrough came in Oakland, where he transformed from a part-time player into a legitimate power threat, launching 30 home runs in 2013 and earning an All-Star selection in 2014. Moss became a key figure in the Athletics' playoff runs, known for his dramatic, game-changing swings. He later served as a veteran presence and designated hitter for several contending clubs, including Cleveland and St. Louis, before retiring as a respected figure who maximized his potential through sheer work ethic.
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.
Brandon 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 Brandon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Brandon'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
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected as an American League All-Star in 2014 while with the Oakland Athletics.
- Hit a career-high 30 home runs for the Oakland Athletics during the 2013 season.
- Played in the postseason with four different franchises: Oakland, St. Louis, Kansas City, and Cleveland.
- Hit a game-tying, ninth-inning home run in Game 1 of the 2014 American League Wild Card Game.
Did You Know?
He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 8th round of the 2002 MLB draft, the same draft that produced Jonathan Papelbon and Jon Lester.
Moss played every defensive position except pitcher and catcher during his professional career.
He hit his first major league home run off future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson.
“I just kept my head down and worked until the swing felt right.”
