Landon Powell
A catcher who called a perfect game, his moment of baseball immortality came on a quiet Oakland afternoon in 2010.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American baseball player and coach·Birthday: March 19·Millennials
Biography
Landon Powell's path to the majors was a testament to resilience, shaped by his college years as a cornerstone of the South Carolina Gamecocks. Drafted by the Oakland Athletics, his big-league tenure was brief but etched with a singular, brilliant highlight. On May 9, 2010, he was the man behind the plate, the steady hand guiding pitcher Dallas Braden through nine flawless innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. That perfect game, a rare feat of pitching and defensive synergy, became the defining chapter of his playing career. After retiring, Powell transitioned seamlessly into coaching, bringing his experience and understanding of the game's finer details to the next generation, currently leading the program at North Greenville University.
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.
Landon was born in 1982, 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 Landon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Landon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
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
2003Turned 21
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
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was the catcher for Dallas Braden's perfect game for the Oakland Athletics on May 9, 2010.
- Played three seasons in Major League Baseball as a catcher from 2009 to 2011.
- Currently serves as the head baseball coach for the North Greenville Trailblazers.
- Was a standout college baseball player at the University of South Carolina from 2001 to 2004.
Did You Know?
He caught a perfect game, one of only 24 in MLB history.
He was a teammate of pitcher Dallas Braden, who famously called out Alex Rodriguez for crossing his mound.
He transitioned directly from professional playing to a head coaching role in college baseball.
“You prepare for that moment your whole career, and then it happens.”
