Scott Downs
A crafty left-handed reliever who became one of the most dependable and sought-after specialists in baseball for over a decade.
Born 1976 (age 50)·American baseball player·Birthday: March 17·Generation X
Biography
Scott Downs didn't overpower hitters with blistering fastballs; he outsmarted them. A starting pitcher early in his career with the Cubs and Expos, he found his true calling when he moved to the bullpen with the Toronto Blue Jays. There, he refined a sinking fastball and sharp slider that made him a nightmare for left-handed batters. His value lay in his consistency and control, turning high-leverage situations into quiet innings. His peak came with the Los Angeles Angels, where from 2009 to 2012 he was a linchpin of their bullpen, posting microscopic ERAs and becoming a manager's first call to defuse a rally. In an era of bullpen specialization, Downs embodied the ideal late-inning lefty, a player whose name wasn't always in headlines but whose steady hand was coveted by every contending team, leading to trades to the Braves and White Sox as playoff races heated up.
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.
Scott 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 Scott Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Scott'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
- Posted a 1.78 ERA over 53 appearances for the Los Angeles Angels in 2011, a career-best mark.
- Led American League relievers in holds in 2010 with 26 while pitching for the Angels.
- Finished his 13-year MLB career with a 3.22 ERA across 619 appearances, the vast majority in relief.
- Was traded at the July deadline in 2013 from the Angels to the Atlanta Braves to bolster their playoff bullpen.
Did You Know?
He played college baseball for the University of Kentucky Wildcats.
He was originally drafted as a starting pitcher by the Chicago Cubs in the third round of the 1997 MLB Draft.
In his final MLB season with the Chicago White Sox, he wore jersey number 37, previously worn by the team's famous closer, Bobby Thigpen.
“My sinker gets ground balls; that's how I earn my paycheck.”
