Ryan Cook (baseball)
A flame-throwing reliever whose 2012 All-Star season with Oakland was a masterclass in high-leverage dominance.
Born 1987 (age 39)·American baseball player·Birthday: June 30·Millennials
Biography
Ryan Cook’s path to the mound was unconventional, beginning as a shortstop at USC before converting to pitching. Drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks, he found his true calling after a trade to the Oakland Athletics in 2011. The following year, Cook exploded onto the scene as a linchpin of the A's bullpen, his mid-90s fastball and sharp slider baffling hitters and propelling the team to a surprise division title. His first-half brilliance earned him a trip to the All-Star Game, a rare honor for a setup man. While injuries later disrupted the consistency of his career, leading to stints with several MLB clubs and a final season in Japan, that 2012 campaign cemented his legacy as one of the most electric and effective relievers of his era, a key architect of Oakland's 'Moneyball' resurgence.
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.
Ryan was born in 1987, 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 Ryan Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Ryan's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
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
2000Became a teenager
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
2003Could drive
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2005Could vote
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
2008Turned 21
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
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected as an American League All-Star in 2012 as a relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics.
- Posted a remarkable 2.09 ERA over 71 appearances in his breakout 2012 season.
- Was a vital part of the 2012 Oakland Athletics team that won the American League West title.
- Pitched professionally in Nippon Professional Baseball for the Yomiuri Giants in 2016.
Did You Know?
He was originally drafted as a shortstop by the Washington Nationals in 2005 but did not sign.
His nickname, 'Cookie,' was given to him by a childhood friend and stuck throughout his career.
He played college baseball at the University of Southern California (USC).
“I was a shortstop first; learning to pitch was about solving a new problem.”
