Pat Burrell
A power-hitting cornerstone for the Philadelphia Phillies whose clutch postseason performance helped deliver the city its first championship in 28 years.
Born 1976 (age 50)·American baseball player·Birthday: October 10·Generation X
Biography
Pat Burrell, forever known as 'Pat the Bat' in Philadelphia, embodied the pure slugger archetype during his 12-year major league career. Drafted first overall by the Phillies in 1998, the University of Miami product brought immediate hope with his prodigious power and keen batting eye. While his high-strikeout, high-walk approach sometimes led to streaks, his presence in the middle of the lineup was a constant threat. His legacy, however, is cemented in the 2008 season. After years of playoff disappointments, Burrell's leadership and veteran bat were instrumental in the Phillies' charge. He scored the winning run in the climactic Game 5 of the World Series, a moment of catharsis for a franchise and its city. He later added a second ring as a role player with the San Francisco Giants in 2010, closing his career as a respected winner.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Pat was born in 1976, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Pat Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Pat's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1976Born
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1981Started school
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Became a teenager
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
1992Could drive
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
1994Could vote
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
1997Turned 21
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
2006Turned 30
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 40
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 50
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two World Series championships, with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2008 and the San Francisco Giants in 2010.
- Was the first overall pick in the 1998 MLB Draft by the Philadelphia Phillies.
- Hit 292 career home runs over 12 MLB seasons.
- Played nine seasons for the Phillies, becoming a fan favorite and a key part of their 2008 championship core.
Did You Know?
His nickname, 'Pat the Bat,' was given to him by Phillies broadcaster Harry Kalas.
He hit a home run in his first major league at-bat on May 24, 2000.
He and his wife established the Burrell Foundation, which supports animal welfare causes.
He played college baseball for the Miami Hurricanes, winning the College World Series in 1999.
“I'm here to hit the ball hard and drive in runs. Everything else is just talk.”
