Jose Altuve
A Venezuelan hitting machine who overcame doubts about his size to become the heart, soul, and most decorated player of the Houston Astros' dynasty.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Venezuelan baseball player·Birthday: May 6·Millennials
Biography
Jose Altuve's narrative is baseball's ultimate underdog tale. Told he was too small at a tryout in Maracay, Venezuela, he was sent home—only to return the next day after his father insisted the scouts give him another look. Signed for a mere $15,000, the 5-foot-6 infielder embarked on a mission to prove that stature is no match for skill and ferocious competitive fire. He rocketed through the minors and seized the Astros' second base job in 2011, becoming the fixture of a team in the depths of a rebuild. As the Astros ascended, so did Altuve, winning batting titles with a compact, powerful swing and stealing bases with explosive speed. He was the American League MVP in 2017, the emotional leader who delivered clutch hit after clutch hit during the team's first World Series championship run. Through subsequent pennants and another title in 2022, Altuve's consistency and postseason brilliance have cemented his status as a modern great, a player whose impact dwarfs his physical frame.
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.
Jose was born in 1990, 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 Jose Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Jose's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
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
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 2017 after leading the league in batting average (.346).
- Is a three-time batting champion (2014, 2016, 2017) and led the AL in hits four times.
- Helped lead the Houston Astros to World Series championships in 2017 and 2022.
- Became the first player in MLB history to win a batting title, a Gold Glove, and the MVP award in the same season (2017) while also winning the Silver Slugger.
Did You Know?
He was signed by the Astros for a bonus of only $15,000 after initially being rejected for being too short.
He hit a walk-off home run to win the 2019 American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees.
He and his wife, Giannina, named their daughter Melanie after former teammate Melvin (B.J.) Upton.
He led the American League in stolen bases in 2014 with 56.
“They told me I was too small. I told them, 'I will show you.'”
