Eric Chavez
The slick-fielding third baseman whose golden glove and powerful bat defined a generation of Oakland A's baseball.
Born 1977 (age 49)·American baseball player and coach·Birthday: December 7·Generation X
Biography
Eric Chavez arrived in Oakland with the quiet confidence of a first-round pick and left as the enduring face of the franchise's early-2000s resurgence. In an era overshadowed by bigger-market teams, Chavez provided the A's with a rare blend of elegance at the hot corner and potent left-handed power at the plate. For a six-year stretch, he was arguably the best defensive third baseman in the game, vacuuming up grounders with a quick first step and a cannon arm. His offensive peak coincided perfectly, making him the clean-up hitter for the 'Moneyball' A's. While back injuries later curtailed the prime years of his playing career, his baseball intellect never dimmed. He transitioned seamlessly into coaching, bringing a respected player's perspective to roles with the New York Yankees and New York Mets, and his 2022 induction into the Athletics Hall of Fame cemented his legacy as a homegrown star who delivered both style and substance.
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.
Eric was born in 1977, 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 Eric Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Eric's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
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
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
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
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won six consecutive American League Gold Glove Awards for third base from 2001 to 2006.
- Received the Silver Slugger Award in 2002 after hitting .275 with 34 home runs and 109 RBI.
- Inducted into the Oakland Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022.
- Played a key role in four Oakland A's playoff teams between 2000 and 2006.
Did You Know?
He was drafted in the first round (10th overall) of the 1996 MLB draft, directly out of high school.
He hit a walk-off home run in his first major league game as a starter in 1999.
He is of Mexican descent on his father's side.
“I took pride in my defense; the home runs were a bonus.”
