Prince Fielder
A fearsome slugger whose prodigious home runs and joyful, barrel-chested presence made him a fan favorite in multiple cities.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American baseball player·Birthday: May 9·Millennials
Biography
Prince Fielder carried a famous name and even more famous power into the big leagues, the son of slugger Cecil Fielder. But he carved his own legacy with a sweet, violent swing that produced mammoth home runs, including the one that won the 2011 All-Star Game for the National League. In Milwaukee, he formed the heart of a resurgent Brewers lineup, leading them to the playoffs. His free-agent move to Detroit created a dream tandem with Miguel Cabrera, the most intimidating middle-of-the-order duo in baseball. Fielder's career was marked by remarkable durability—he once played 547 consecutive games—and a palpable joy for the game, often celebrated with his teammates' elaborate 'brew crew' home run celebrations. A serious neck injury cut his time in Texas tragically short, but his impact as one of the most consistent and powerful hitters of his era remains.
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.
Prince was born in 1984, 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 Prince Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Prince's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
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
1997Became a teenager
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
2000Could drive
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
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
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
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the 2011 All-Star Game MVP award after hitting a three-run homer for the National League.
- Hit 50 home runs in 2007, becoming the youngest player ever to reach that milestone at age 23.
- A three-time Silver Slugger Award winner and six-time MLB All-Star.
- Drove in at least 100 runs in seven different seasons during his career.
Did You Know?
He and his father, Cecil, are the only father-son duo in MLB history to each hit 50 home runs in a season.
He was a vegetarian for much of his playing career.
Fielder famously participated in the Brewers' 'Bernie Brewer' slide celebration after hitting a home run.
“I just try to see the ball and hit it. I don't try to hit home runs.”
