Homer Bailey
The hard-throwing right-hander who authored two of baseball's rarest feats: no-hitters for a Cincinnati Reds franchise with a rich pitching history.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American baseball player·Birthday: May 3·Millennials
Biography
Homer Bailey's career is defined by two extraordinary nights of perfection surrounded by a long grind of injury and resilience. Drafted seventh overall by the Cincinnati Reds in 2004, he carried the weight of being the franchise's next great pitching hope. For years, he battled inconsistency and a series of arm ailments that threatened to derail his promise. Then, in 2012 and again in 2013, he achieved pitching immortality. He threw no-hitters against the Pittsburgh Pirates and the San Francisco Giants, becoming one of only a handful of pitchers in MLB history with multiple no-hitters. These brilliant performances cemented his place in Reds lore, even as his subsequent years were a battle to stay on the mound. He finished his career as a testament to the fleeting nature of baseball's highest peaks and the perseverance required to reach them.
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.
Homer 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 Homer Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Homer'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
- Pitched two no-hitters for the Cincinnati Reds: the first against the Pittsburgh Pirates in September 2012, and the second against the San Francisco Giants in July 2013.
- Struck out a career-high 13 batters in his second no-hitter against the San Francisco Giants.
- Signed a six-year, $105 million contract extension with the Cincinnati Reds in 2014, the largest in franchise history for a pitcher at the time.
- Pitched over 1,400 innings in his MLB career, accumulating 81 wins and 1,571 strikeouts across 13 seasons.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Homer' is not related to baseball home runs but is a family name passed down from his grandfather.
Bailey was a standout high school baseball and football player in La Grange, Texas, and was also a talented trumpet player.
He made his MLB debut at the age of 21 in 2007, pitching against the Cleveland Indians.
In 2019, after being released by the Reds, he pitched for both the Kansas City Royals and Oakland Athletics in the same season.
“You don't think about a no-hitter; you just keep trying to make the next pitch.”
