Ian Kennedy
A durable MLB right-hander who evolved from a prized Yankees prospect into a reliable innings-eater and occasional closer over a 17-year career.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American baseball pitcher·Birthday: December 19·Millennials
Biography
Ian Kennedy's baseball journey was one of adaptation and resilience. Drafted in the first round by the New York Yankees, he arrived with the pedigree of a future ace. His early career, however, was a lesson in the volatility of pitching, as he shuttled between the majors and minors before finding his footing with the Arizona Diamondbacks. It was in the desert where he blossomed, posting a 21-win season in 2011 that announced him as a frontline starter. As his fastball velocity moderated, Kennedy reinvented himself, mastering command and a deceptive changeup to remain effective. His career's late act saw a successful conversion to a closer's role with the Texas Rangers, proving his baseball IQ and versatility in a demanding professional landscape.
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.
Ian was born in 1984, 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 Ian Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Ian's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
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
2000Could drive
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
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished fourth in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2011 after leading the league with 21 wins for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
- Pitched over 200 innings in a season twice, in 2011 and 2012.
- Recorded 30 saves for the Texas Rangers in 2021 after transitioning to the closer role.
- Played in 17 MLB seasons for six different franchises, amassing over 1,800 career innings.
Did You Know?
He played college baseball for the University of Southern California (USC) Trojans.
He was part of the three-team trade in 2009 that sent Curtis Granderson to the Yankees and Max Scherzer to the Tigers.
He and his wife, Allison, are actively involved in charity work, particularly with the Phoenix Children's Hospital.
“You learn to pitch with your head when your fastball isn't enough.”
