Timo Pérez
A sparkplug outfielder whose electrifying speed and infectious energy defined the New York Mets' 2000 World Series run.
Born 1975 (age 51)·Dominican baseball player·Birthday: April 8·Generation X
Biography
Timo Pérez's journey to the majors was anything but direct. Born in Santo Domingo, he first carved out a professional career in Japan with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, honing his skills before crossing the Pacific. His moment arrived in 2000 with the New York Mets, where he wasn't just a call-up; he became a catalyst. Inserted into the lineup during the pennant race, his relentless hustle and timely hitting provided a jolt that propelled the Mets to the National League pennant. While his tenure in the big leagues was characterized more by bursts of brilliance than sustained stardom, his name remains etched in Mets lore for that magical autumn. After his playing days, he transitioned into coaching, often working with young players on the fundamentals that defined his own game: speed, defense, and making the most of every opportunity.
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.
Timo was born in 1975, 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 Timo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1975
#1 Movie
Jaws
Best Picture
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Timo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1975Born
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1980Started school
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1988Became a teenager
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Could drive
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1993Could vote
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Turned 21
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2005Turned 30
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
2015Turned 40
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 50
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 51 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played a pivotal role for the New York Mets in their 2000 National League championship season, appearing in the World Series.
- Compiled a professional baseball career spanning over a decade across MLB and Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball.
- Recorded a .272 batting average with 28 home runs and 172 stolen bases over his seven-season MLB career.
Did You Know?
He was originally signed by the Atlanta Braves in 1995 but was released before playing a game for them.
Pérez famously scored from first base on a single by Todd Zeile in Game 1 of the 2000 NLCS, a play highlighting his blistering speed.
He played four seasons for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp in Japan before making his MLB debut.
“You have to be ready for the moment when it comes, no matter the path.”
