Jason Bartlett (baseball)
A steady defensive shortstop whose reliable glove and timely hitting were instrumental in the Tampa Bay Rays' stunning 2008 World Series run.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American baseball player·Birthday: October 30·Generation X
Biography
Jason Bartlett's career is a testament to the value of consistency and defensive excellence. Breaking into the majors with the Minnesota Twins, he established himself as a sure-handed shortstop before a 2007 trade sent him to the Tampa Bay Rays. In Tampa, Bartlett became a cornerstone of a young team's transformation. His 2008 season was a revelation: he provided stellar defense up the middle and delivered a .286 batting average, helping to propel the Rays from perennial losers to American League champions. While not a flashy power hitter, Bartlett's ability to make contact and his speed on the bases made him a perfect fit for the Rays' gritty identity. His career, which later included a stop in San Diego, is remembered for that pivotal role in one of baseball's most dramatic turnarounds.
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.
Jason 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 Jason Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Jason'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
- Was the starting shortstop for the American League champion Tampa Bay Rays in 2008.
- Finished 18th in American League MVP voting in 2009 after batting .320 with 14 home runs and 30 stolen bases.
- Won the Tampa Bay Rays MVP award in 2009 as voted by the local chapter of the Baseball Writers' Association.
- Led American League shortstops in fielding percentage in 2009 with a .989 mark.
Did You Know?
He is of Filipino descent through his mother.
He was originally drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2001 but did not sign.
He hit for the cycle on May 20, 2008, as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.
In 2009, he set a Rays franchise record for highest batting average in a season by a shortstop (.320).
“A clean glove and a simple approach built my career.”
