Justin Turner
A late-blooming hitting savant whose fiery leadership and clutch postseason heroics made him the soul of the Dodgers' 2020 championship team.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American baseball player·Birthday: November 23·Millennials
Biography
Justin Turner's story is one of remarkable reinvention. For years, he was a utility infielder with a forgettable slash line, bouncing between organizations. Then, after signing with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2014, he completely rebuilt his swing, emerging as one of baseball's most consistent and dangerous hitters. With his bright red beard and relentless competitive fire, he became the emotional center of a Dodgers team that dominated the National League for nearly a decade. His legacy is etched in October, where he compiled some of the best postseason statistics in history, culminating in a World Series title in 2020. Beyond the field, his charitable work, particularly through his Justin Turner Foundation, cemented his status as a franchise pillar.
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.
Justin was born in 1984, 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 Justin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Justin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
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
2000Could drive
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
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2020 World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers, delivering key hits throughout the postseason.
- Earned an All-Star selection in 2017 and finished in the top 10 in NL MVP voting twice.
- Holds the Dodgers franchise record for the highest career postseason batting average (minimum 150 plate appearances).
- Won the 2022 Roberto Clemente Award for his character, community involvement, and philanthropy.
- Recorded a .322 batting average in 2017, the highest single-season mark by a Dodgers third baseman since 1962.
Did You Know?
He and his wife, Kourtney, are deeply involved in charity, notably supporting veterans, children's hospitals, and homeless youth in Los Angeles.
His signature red beard became so iconic that fans would wear fake beards to games in his honor.
He was drafted as a shortstop by the Cincinnati Reds in 2006 but was traded to the Baltimore Orioles before making his MLB debut.
He played college baseball at Cal State Fullerton, where he was a teammate of current MLB pitcher Kurt Suzuki.
“We play for the name on the front of the jersey, not the back.”
