Casey Blake
A versatile and gritty corner infielder who carved out a solid 13-year MLB career through adaptability and a reliable bat.
Born 1973 (age 53)·American baseball player·Birthday: August 23·Generation X
Biography
Casey Blake embodied the value of a durable, team-first player who could slot in wherever needed. Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays, he bounced between organizations before finding a lasting role with the Cleveland Indians. Blake was never a flashy superstar, but his steady right-handed power and defensive flexibility made him indispensable. He famously shifted from third base to right field for two full seasons to accommodate a new teammate, then moved back to the hot corner without complaint, all while providing double-digit home run power annually. His career culminated with a trade to the Los Angeles Dodgers, where he became a key veteran presence on playoff teams. Blake's story is one of baseball pragmatism—a player whose willingness to adapt and consistent production granted him longevity in a demanding sport.
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.
Casey was born in 1973, 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 Casey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Casey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
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
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
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
2003Turned 30
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2013Turned 40
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 50
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 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played over 1,300 games across 13 seasons in Major League Baseball.
- Hit 20 or more home runs in four separate seasons during his career.
- Was a starting third baseman for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2009 NLCS.
Did You Know?
He was originally drafted as a catcher by the Toronto Blue Jays in 1996.
He played college baseball at Wichita State University.
He hit a walk-off home run for the Cleveland Indians on Opening Day in 2007.
After retirement, he owned and operated a baseball training facility in Iowa.
“I'll play wherever the team needs me to win.”
