Garrett Atkins
A powerful Rockies slugger who delivered one of the most explosive offensive seasons in franchise history during their 2007 World Series run.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American baseball player·Birthday: December 12·Generation X
Biography
Garrett Atkins arrived in Denver as a polished hitter from UCLA and quickly became a cornerstone of the Colorado Rockies' lineup in the mid-2000s. With a smooth, right-handed swing tailored for Coors Field, he possessed a knack for driving the ball to all fields and delivering in clutch situations. His peak season in 2006 was a masterpiece: he batted .329, hammered 29 home runs, and drove in 120 runs, finishing in the top five in National League MVP voting. Atkins was instrumental in the Rockies' magical 2007 season, a key bat that helped propel them on a 21-1 streak to capture the National League pennant and reach the World Series. While his production later tapered off after leaving Colorado, his name remains etched in Rockies lore for that period of offensive brilliance that defined an 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.
Garrett 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 Garrett Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Garrett'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
- Finished 5th in National League MVP voting in 2006 after batting .329 with 120 RBI.
- Hit a career-high 29 home runs in 2006, one of the best power-hitting seasons by a Rockies third baseman.
- Was a critical offensive contributor for the 2007 Colorado Rockies team that won the NL pennant.
- Recorded a .357 on-base percentage over his seven seasons with the Rockies.
Did You Know?
He was a teammate of Troy Tulowitzki at both UCLA and with the Colorado Rockies.
Atkins was drafted by the New York Mets in 1997 but did not sign, choosing to attend college instead.
In 2009, he hit a walk-off grand slam against the Washington Nationals.
He played his final Major League game at the age of 30 with the Baltimore Orioles.
“I hit the ball where it was pitched and drove in runs for my team.”
