Michael Saunders
A powerful Canadian outfielder whose career was defined by a dramatic All-Star season and a pivotal home run for the Blue Jays.
Born 1986 (age 40)·Canadian baseball player·Birthday: November 19·Millennials
Biography
Born in Victoria, British Columbia, Michael Saunders was a classic late-blooming talent who turned his athletic promise into a major league career. Drafted by the Seattle Mariners in 2004, he spent years honing his skills in the minors before becoming a regular in their outfield. His defining moment came after a trade to the Toronto Blue Jays, where in 2016 he channeled a career year into an All-Star selection, becoming a fan favorite at Rogers Centre. That season was punctuated by a towering home run in the American League Wild Card game, a swing that etched his name into a pivotal chapter of Jays history. Injuries ultimately curtailed his time at the peak, but his journey from the Pacific Northwest to the fever pitch of Toronto's playoff run remains a compelling story of persistence and timely power.
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.
Michael was born in 1986, 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 Michael Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Michael's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
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
2007Turned 21
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
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected as an American League All-Star in 2016 while with the Toronto Blue Jays.
- Hit a home run in the 2016 AL Wild Card game, helping Toronto advance to the Division Series.
- Played in over 700 Major League games across eight seasons with three different teams.
Did You Know?
He was drafted by the Seattle Mariners in the 11th round of the 2004 MLB draft.
He represented Canada in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
His middle names are Edward Brett, the latter being a nod to baseball Hall of Famer George Brett.
“You have to earn your spot every single day in this game.”
