Matt Harvey
A fireball pitcher whose meteoric rise and devastating injuries wrote a tragic, compelling chapter in New York baseball lore.
Born 1989 (age 37)·American baseball player·Birthday: March 27·Millennials
Biography
Matt Harvey arrived in Queens not just as a pitcher, but as an event. Drafted by the Mets in 2010, he brought a swagger and a high-90s fastball that electrified a dormant franchise, earning the comic-book nickname 'The Dark Knight.' His 2013 All-Star start at Citi Field, where he struck out the side, felt like a coronation. But the narrative turned with a torn elbow ligament requiring Tommy John surgery, followed later by thoracic outlet syndrome. His heroic, innings-defying performance in the 2015 World Series run became a last stand. The subsequent physical decline and off-field controversies led to a swift departure from New York, and he drifted through several clubs, his career a stark study in the fragility of baseball brilliance.
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.
Matt was born in 1989, 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 Matt Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Matt's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
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
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
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
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Started the 2013 MLB All-Star Game for the National League at his home ballpark, Citi Field.
- Pitched 8 scoreless innings in Game 5 of the 2015 World Series, a must-win game for the Mets.
- Recorded 191 strikeouts in 2013, finishing fourth in Cy Young Award voting that season.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'The Dark Knight' was given by a Wall Street Journal writer due to his preference for all-black attire and intimidating mound presence.
He was a standout hockey player in high school in Connecticut.
He famously defied his manager's pitch count in the 2015 World Series, demanding to pitch the 9th inning.
“I’m the one standing on the mound. I’m the one who has to make the pitch.”
