Chad Cordero
The baby-faced closer with a devastating fastball who became the final Expos star and a Washington Nationals original.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American baseball player·Birthday: March 18·Millennials
Biography
Chad Cordero exploded onto the baseball scene not with intimidating size, but with pinpoint control and a fearless demeanor on the mound. Drafted by the Montreal Expos, he quickly ascended to become their closer, saving a league-leading 47 games in 2005 and earning an All-Star nod—a bright spot for a franchise in its twilight. His signature Expos cap tilted to the side, Cordero was the last true standout for Montreal before the team's move to Washington, D.C. He seamlessly transitioned to become the first Nationals closer, instantly embedding himself in the new team's identity. His career, however, was marred by shoulder injuries that sapped his velocity and cut his peak tragically short. For fans in two cities, Cordero remains a symbol of what might have been, a flame that burned intensely but briefly, leaving a legacy of ninth-inning dominance during a complex era for the franchise.
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.
Chad was born in 1982, 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 Chad Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Chad's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
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
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
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
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led the National League with 47 saves in 2005 while pitching for the Montreal Expos/Washington Nationals.
- Selected as a National League All-Star in 2005.
- Recorded the first save in Washington Nationals history on April 6, 2005.
- Finished fifth in voting for the 2005 National League Cy Young Award.
Did You Know?
He wore his cap slightly off-center, a distinctive look that became his trademark.
In college at Cal State Fullerton, he played alongside fellow future MLB pitchers Kirk Saarloos and Chad Cordero.
His nickname was 'The Chief,' a reference to the team logo of the Washington Nationals at the time.
He recorded a save in his Major League debut on August 30, 2003.
“The ninth inning is a street fight, and the strike zone is my alley.”
