Carlos Pérez (pitcher)
A charismatic and unpredictable Dominican pitcher who became a fan favorite with his distinctive spectacles and fiery competitiveness.
Born 1971 (age 55)·Dominican baseball player·Birthday: April 14·Generation X
Biography
Carlos Pérez arrived in the majors with a bang, part of a talented baseball family that included his brothers Melido and Pascual. The right-hander was known for his high leg kick, a lively fastball, and the thick glasses he wore on the mound, a rare sight in professional sports. His rookie season with the Montreal Expos in 1995 was sensational, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting and instantly capturing the imagination of fans. Pérez's style was emotive and demonstrative; he played with visible passion, often shouting at himself or celebrating strikeouts with gusto. While his peak was relatively short, his vibrant personality and early success cemented his place as one of the more memorable figures of 1990s baseball.
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.
Carlos was born in 1971, 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 Carlos Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Carlos's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
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
1992Turned 21
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
2001Turned 30
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
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting in 1995 after posting a 2.56 ERA for Montreal.
- Pitched a complete-game, three-hit shutout against the Los Angeles Dodgers in his major league debut.
- Was a key part of the Montreal Expos' starting rotation during the mid-1990s.
Did You Know?
He was known for wearing prescription glasses while pitching.
He and his brothers Melido and Pascual all pitched in the major leagues.
He famously celebrated strikeouts by pointing to the sky and shouting.
“You watch the hitter's hands, not his eyes, through these glasses.”
