Dexter Fowler
The charismatic center fielder whose leadoff home run in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series ignited the Chicago Cubs' historic championship.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American baseball player·Birthday: March 22·Millennials
Biography
With a smile as wide as his skill set, Dexter Fowler brought a unique blend of speed, switch-hitting power, and graceful defense to center field for over a decade. After breaking in with Colorado, he became a catalyst at the top of lineups, consistently ranking among league leaders in triples. His career-defining moment came with the Chicago Cubs in 2016. As the team's leadoff man, he set the table all season and then, in the winner-take-all Game 7 of the World Series, led off with a stunning home run, breaking the tension and propelling the Cubs to their first title in 108 years. Fowler later helped stabilize the St. Louis Cardinals before retiring, leaving a legacy as a clutch performer and a beloved teammate who played the game with palpable joy.
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.
Dexter was born in 1986, 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 Dexter Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Dexter's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
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
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Hit a leadoff home run in Game 7 of the 2016 World Series, helping the Chicago Cubs end a 108-year championship drought.
- Led all Major League players with 72 triples during the 2010s decade.
- Represented the United States baseball team at the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
- Was the first Black player to be an opening-day starter for the Chicago Cubs, which he did in 2015.
Did You Know?
He was a standout high school basketball player in Georgia and had scholarship offers before focusing on baseball.
He and his wife, Aliya, are avid golfers and have participated in pro-am tournaments.
He is a licensed pilot and owns his own aircraft.
His father, Dexter Fowler Sr., was a professional baseball player in the Montreal Expos organization.
“You go through the struggles to get to the good part.”
