Chris Coghlan
He rocketed from a promising rookie to a World Series champion, delivering one of baseball's most unforgettable home-plate collisions.
Born 1985 (age 41)·American baseball player·Birthday: June 18·Millennials
Biography
Chris Coghlan's baseball journey is a story of a sharp ascent and a hard-won, ultimate prize. Drafted by the Florida Marlins, he announced his arrival by winning the 2009 National League Rookie of the Year award, hitting .321 in his debut season. His career path then took him through several teams, where he settled into a valuable role as a versatile and gritty outfielder and pinch-hitter. His defining moment, however, came in 2016 with the Chicago Cubs. In a regular-season game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Coghlan executed a breathtaking, head-first leap over catcher Yadier Molina to score, a play that instantly became a viral sensation and encapsulated his fearless style. That same year, his contributions helped the Cubs break their 108-year championship drought, earning him a World Series ring before he retired in 2019.
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.
Chris was born in 1985, 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 Chris Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Chris's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
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
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
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
2003Could vote
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
2006Turned 21
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2009 with the Florida Marlins.
- Was a member of the 2016 Chicago Cubs team that won the World Series, ending a 108-year championship drought.
- Recorded a .321 batting average in his rookie season, leading all NL rookies.
Did You Know?
His famous 'leap' over Yadier Molina in 2016 was named MLB's Play of the Year.
He played college baseball at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).
He was traded from the Cubs to the Oakland Athletics in 2016, then re-acquired by the Cubs later that same season.
“I just tried to be consistent and put together good at-bats.”
