Jerry Owens
A speedy outfielder whose MLB journey was brief but capped by a unique, perfect stolen base season with the Chicago White Sox.
Born 1981 (age 45)·American baseball player·Birthday: February 16·Millennials
Biography
Jerry Owens carved his professional identity out of pure speed. Drafted by the Cincinnati Reds, he found his way to the Chicago White Sox organization, where his quickness on the basepaths and in center field offered a specific tool. His major league opportunities were sporadic across parts of four seasons, often as a late-inning defensive replacement or pinch-runner. The high point of his big-league tenure came in 2007, when he seized a more regular role and leveraged his legs to lead the American League in stolen base percentage, swiping 32 bags without being caught once. While his bat couldn't secure a permanent lineup spot, that season of flawless thievery remains a distinctive footnote in baseball history. After his MLB stint, he continued playing in the minors and internationally before transitioning out of the game.
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.
Jerry was born in 1981, 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 Jerry Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Jerry's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1986Started school
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
1994Became a teenager
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
1997Could drive
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
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Stole 32 bases in 32 attempts for the Chicago White Sox in 2007, leading the American League in stolen base percentage.
- Recorded a 20-game hitting streak for the Triple-A Charlotte Knights in 2006, showcasing consistent contact.
- Played in 147 Major League games across four seasons, primarily with the Chicago White Sox.
- Was originally drafted in the 2nd round of the 2003 MLB draft by the Cincinnati Reds.
Did You Know?
He went a perfect 32-for-32 in stolen base attempts in 2007, a rare feat of efficiency.
Owens played college baseball at The Master's University in Santa Clarita, California.
After his MLB career, he played for the Yomiuri Giants in Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
He is a cousin of former NFL wide receiver Terrell Owens.
“My game was simple: get on base and let my legs do the talking.”
