Chone Figgins
A versatile speedster who became the sparkplug for the Los Angeles Angels' 2002 World Series run, setting a record for stolen bases along the way.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American baseball player·Birthday: January 22·Generation X
Biography
Chone Figgins carved out an eleven-year MLB career not with prodigious power, but with disruptive speed and defensive flexibility that made him a manager's dream. Drafted by the Colorado Rockies, he was quickly traded to the Anaheim Angels, where he became a fan favorite known as 'Figgy.' His breakout came in the 2002 postseason, where his pinch-running and energetic play off the bench helped fuel the Angels' first and only World Series championship. As a regular, Figgins led the American League in walks and stolen bases, becoming one of the most potent leadoff hitters in the game. His ability to play seven positions—from third base to center field—provided invaluable lineup flexibility. While a lucrative subsequent contract with the Seattle Mariners failed to yield the same results, his peak years in Anaheim defined him as the quintessential table-setter and a central character in a golden era for the franchise.
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.
Chone was born in 1978, 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 Chone Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Chone's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
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
1983Started school
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
1991Became a teenager
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
1994Could drive
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
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led the American League with 101 walks and 62 stolen bases during the 2009 season, becoming a rare modern player to achieve that combination.
- Was an integral utility player for the Anaheim Angels team that won the 2002 World Series, appearing in all three series.
- Selected to the American League All-Star team in 2009 as the starting third baseman.
- Finished 10th in the American League MVP voting in 2009 after batting .298 and scoring 114 runs.
Did You Know?
His first name, 'Chone,' is pronounced 'Shawn.' It is his mother's maiden name.
Figgins was originally drafted as a shortstop but played more games at third base and in the outfield during his MLB career.
He stole home plate twice during the 2008 season.
In 2007, he set a then-Angels franchise record by stealing seven consecutive bases without being caught.
“I'll take a walk, a stolen base, and a win over a home run any day.”
