Terrence Long
A steady outfielder who became a fixture in Oakland's Moneyball era, known for his reliable glove and a potent bat during the team's playoff runs.
Born 1976 (age 50)·American baseball player·Birthday: February 29·Generation X
Biography
Terrence Long arrived in Oakland in a 2000 trade, and for a few key seasons, he was a durable, everyday answer in the outfield for the Athletics teams that captured the baseball world's imagination. In the early 2000s, as Billy Beane's 'Moneyball' philosophy took shape, Long was a constant, playing in every single game for two full seasons. He wasn't a headline-grabbing superstar, but a solid contributor—a .270 hitter with occasional pop who could cover center field. His tenure peaked with back-to-back trips to the American League Division Series, where his performances, including a memorable extra-inning home run in 2001, cemented his place in that era of A's lore. After Oakland, he became a journeyman, bouncing between several clubs, but his identity remains tied to those competitive, gritty A's squads that challenged the financial orthodoxy of the sport.
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.
Terrence 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 Terrence Was Born
The biggest hits of 1976
#1 Movie
Rocky
Best Picture
Rocky
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Terrence'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
- Finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2000 after hitting .288 with 18 home runs for Oakland.
- Played in all 162 games for the Oakland Athletics in both the 2001 and 2002 seasons.
- Hit a walk-off home run in the 12th inning of Game 1 of the 2001 ALDS against the New York Yankees.
- Recorded 20 outfield assists in 2001, showcasing a strong and accurate throwing arm.
- Was a key starting outfielder for the Oakland teams that made the playoffs in 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003.
Did You Know?
He was originally drafted by the New York Mets in the first round (20th overall) in 1994.
He was traded from the Mets to the Athletics for pitcher Kenny Rogers in July 2000.
He hit for the cycle on September 29, 2001, against the Seattle Mariners.
He played for the New York Yankees for 14 games at the very end of his MLB career in 2006.
“I was an everyday player in Oakland when that whole Moneyball thing started.”
