Jayson Werth
The bearded slugger whose late-career renaissance in Washington made him the folk hero of a franchise's turnaround.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American baseball player·Birthday: May 20·Generation X
Biography
Jayson Werth's baseball narrative is one of transformation and perfect timing. A first-round pick burdened by early injuries, he found his stride as a versatile, powerful outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies, contributing to a World Series championship in 2008. But his defining chapter began when he signed with the Washington Nationals in 2011. At the time, the Nationals were a perennial loser; Werth, with his intense demeanor and signature beard, became the veteran cornerstone of their cultural shift. His walk-off home run in Game 4 of the 2012 NLDS is etched in franchise lore, a moment that announced Washington's arrival as a contender. He provided clutch hitting, defensive savvy, and a hard-nosed attitude that helped shepherd a young core, including Bryce Harper, toward success. Werth's seven seasons in D.C. turned him from a hired bat into a beloved icon, symbolizing the team's rise from obscurity to division dominance.
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.
Jayson 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 Jayson Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Jayson'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
- Won a World Series championship with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008.
- Hit a dramatic walk-off home run in the 9th inning of Game 4 of the 2012 NLDS for the Washington Nationals.
- Recorded a 20-20 season (20+ home runs, 20+ stolen bases) with the Phillies in 2010.
- Played in over 1,500 MLB games across 15 seasons for four different franchises.
Did You Know?
He is the grandson of former MLB player Dick Schofield and the stepson of former MLB player Dennis Werth.
He was originally drafted as a catcher by the Baltimore Orioles in 1997.
His full name is Jayson Richard Gowan Werth.
He was known for his distinctive long hair and beard during his time with the Nationals.
“I came here to win, and we're going to do things the right way to get it done.”
