Josh Donaldson
A fierce competitor and late-blooming slugger whose MVP season powered the Toronto Blue Jays to their first playoff berth in over two decades.
Born 1985 (age 41)·American baseball player·Birthday: December 8·Millennials
Biography
Josh Donaldson's path to stardom was anything but linear. Traded twice as a minor-league prospect, he was considered a utility player until the Oakland Athletics saw something more, converting him to third base. It was in Toronto, however, where he exploded into a superstar. In 2015, nicknamed 'The Bringer of Rain,' Donaldson played with a combative edge that defined his team, putting up monstrous offensive numbers and dazzling defensive plays. He dragged the Blue Jays to the American League Championship Series, ending a 22-year postseason drought and electrifying a nation. While injuries later tempered his peak, his tenure as one of baseball's most fearsome and intense players during that mid-2010s run remains unforgettable.
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.
Josh was born in 1985, 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 Josh Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Josh's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
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
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
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
2003Could vote
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
2006Turned 21
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
2015Turned 30
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the American League Most Valuable Player award in 2015 with the Toronto Blue Jays.
- Led the American League in runs scored (122) and RBI (123) during his 2015 MVP season.
- Was a three-time MLB All-Star and won two Silver Slugger Awards at third base.
- Hit a walk-off home run in the 2016 American League Wild Card Game for the Blue Jays.
Did You Know?
He was originally drafted by the Chicago Cubs as a catcher out of Auburn University.
His MVP season in 2015 was his first full year playing third base as a primary position.
He is known for his intense, detailed preparation and study of opposing pitchers.
He played for seven different MLB teams over his 13-year career.
“I play with a lot of passion, and sometimes my passion can be mistaken for something else.”
