Corey Patterson
A Cubs phenom whose blazing speed and golden glove promised stardom, leading a long professional journey through seven major league clubs.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American baseball player·Birthday: August 13·Generation X
Biography
Corey Patterson arrived in Chicago with the weight of great expectation. Drafted third overall by the Cubs in 1998, he was hailed as a five-tool center fielder, a blend of power, speed, and defensive grace destined for Wrigley Field stardom. He debuted at 21 and showed flashes of his immense potential, notably swiping 32 bases in 2004 and playing a dazzling center field. Yet, consistent offensive production proved elusive, and after parts of six seasons, the Cubs moved on. What followed was the life of a baseball nomad; Patterson played for six more MLB teams, with his longest stint in Baltimore. His career, spanning over a decade, is a testament to the enduring value of his defensive skills and athleticism, even as the offensive ceiling went unmet. He later transitioned to coaching in collegiate summer leagues.
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.
Corey was born in 1979, 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 Corey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Corey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
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
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was selected by the Chicago Cubs with the 3rd overall pick in the first round of the 1998 MLB draft.
- Stole 32 bases for the Chicago Cubs during the 2004 season.
- Played in over 1,200 Major League games across 12 seasons with seven different teams.
Did You Know?
He was a first-round draft pick (3rd overall) out of high school in 1998.
He is the manager of the Brookhaven Bucks in the collegiate Sunbelt Baseball League.
His full given name is Donald Corey Patterson.
“I learned you can't control the noise, only your at-bats.”
