Noah Syndergaard
A flame-throwing pitcher nicknamed 'Thor' who combined mythical velocity with a flowing blonde mane to become a New York Mets folk hero.
Born 1992 (age 34)·American baseball player·Birthday: August 29·Millennials
Biography
Noah Syndergaard arrived in New York with a fitting nickname and the arsenal to back it up. Standing 6'6" with long blonde hair and a fastball that routinely touched 100 mph, 'Thor' was instant mythology for the Mets. His 2015 playoff debut, where he famously threw a first-pitch fastball over the head of the Royals' Alcides Escobar, announced a pitcher of thrilling, uncompromising intensity. For several seasons, he was a dominant force, pairing his elite velocity with a sharp slider. Injuries, however, became a recurring antagonist, derailing his momentum and leading him on a journey across multiple teams as he sought to reclaim his former power. Syndergaard's peak was a spectacle of pure athletic force, a reminder of how a pitcher's presence can electrify a franchise and its fans.
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.
Noah was born in 1992, 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 Noah Was Born
The biggest hits of 1992
#1 Movie
Aladdin
Best Picture
Unforgiven
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Noah's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1992Born
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1997Started school
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
2005Became a teenager
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
2008Could drive
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2010Could vote
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
2013Turned 21
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2022Turned 30
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 34 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Finished 8th in National League Cy Young Award voting in 2016 after posting a 2.60 ERA and 218 strikeouts.
- Played a crucial role in the New York Mets' 2015 National League pennant-winning season, including a win in Game 3 of the World Series.
- Threw a complete-game shutout against the Cincinnati Reds in 2019, striking out ten batters.
- Recorded over 200 strikeouts in a season twice during his tenure with the Mets.
Did You Know?
He learned his devastating slider from watching YouTube videos of former MLB pitcher Derek Lowe.
He is an avid archer and has participated in bowhunting.
He was traded from the Toronto Blue Jays to the Mets in the deal for R.A. Dickey in 2012.
During the 2015 World Series, he requested and received permission from the team to grow his hair out to fully embody the 'Thor' persona.
“I don't think there's any better feeling than throwing a baseball 100 miles an hour.”
