César Izturis
A defensive wizard with a golden glove, his sure hands and quiet leadership anchored infields across Major League Baseball for over a decade.
Born 1980 (age 46)·Venezuelan baseball player·Birthday: February 10·Generation X
Biography
César Izturis emerged from Venezuela, a country known for producing flashy hitters, to become one of the most reliable defensive shortstops of his era. His journey through nine different MLB clubs was a testament to his valued skill set: while never a power threat at the plate, managers coveted his spectacular range, soft hands, and baseball intelligence. The pinnacle of his 13-year career came in 2004 with the Los Angeles Dodgers, where his flawless fielding earned him a Rawlings Gold Glove Award and a trip to the All-Star Game. After his playing days, Izturis transitioned smoothly into coaching, bringing his deep understanding of infield mechanics and the game's nuances to new generations of players, first in the Milwaukee Brewers' system and later in the Mexican League. His legacy is that of a craftsman who mastered the difficult art of defense, providing stability up the middle for every team he called home.
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.
César was born in 1980, 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 César Was Born
The biggest hits of 1980
#1 Movie
The Empire Strikes Back
Best Picture
Ordinary People
#1 TV Show
Dallas
César's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1980Born
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1985Started school
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1993Became a teenager
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Could drive
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1998Could vote
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Turned 21
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
2010Turned 30
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2020Turned 40
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 46 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the National League Rawlings Gold Glove Award for shortstop in 2004 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Selected as a National League All-Star in 2005, recognizing his elite defensive reputation.
- Played in over 1,100 Major League games across 13 seasons for nine different franchises.
- Recorded a career .976 fielding percentage at shortstop, a mark of exceptional defensive consistency.
Did You Know?
He is the half-brother of fellow MLB infielder Maicer Izturis.
He was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays as an amateur free agent in 1996 at the age of 16.
In 2004, he led all National League shortstops in fielding percentage, putouts, and total chances per game.
He hit his first and only major league grand slam on July 7, 2006, while playing for the Chicago Cubs.
“A clean glove and a strong arm can win more games than a loud bat.”
