José Reyes (infielder)
A dynamic shortstop whose electrifying speed and infectious energy made him the sparkplug for the New York Mets' rise in the 2000s.
Born 1983 (age 43)·Dominican baseball player·Birthday: June 11·Millennials
Biography
José Reyes didn't just play baseball; he injected it with pure, unadulterated joy. Bursting into the majors with the New York Mets as a teenager, he immediately changed the game's geometry. His switch-hitting bat sprayed line drives, but it was his legs that defined him. Reyes was a blur, turning singles into doubles and routinely leading the league in triples and stolen bases, his helmet often flying off as he rounded first. Alongside David Wright, he formed the core of a resurgent Mets team, his energy palpable from the leadoff spot. While his later career saw him bounce across several teams, including a batting title in 2011, his prime in Queens remains iconic. He played with a smile and a flair that made him a fan favorite, a reminder that at its best, baseball is a game of thrilling, disruptive speed.
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.
José was born in 1983, 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 José Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
José's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the National League batting title in 2011 with a .337 average while playing for the New York Mets.
- Led the National League in stolen bases three times and in triples four times during his career.
- Was a four-time All-Star selection and the first star shortstop for the Mets in the modern era.
Did You Know?
He hit an inside-the-park home run in his first major league postseason at-bat in 2006.
He and David Wright were known as the 'left side of the infield' for the Mets for nearly a decade.
He popularized a distinctive, high-energy handshake routine with teammates before games.
“I just want to play the game with a lot of energy and have fun.”
