Tyler Clippard
A rubber-armed relief pitcher whose nomadic 15-year career saw him become an All-Star setup man for the Washington Nationals.
Born 1985 (age 41)·American baseball player·Birthday: February 14·Millennials
Biography
Tyler Clippard carved out a long and valuable Major League career not as a star closer, but as a versatile and durable relief weapon. With a distinctive high-socked look and a deceptive delivery, his trademark changeup baffled hitters for over a decade. His peak came with the Washington Nationals, where he evolved from a Rule 5 draft pick into a dominant setup man, earning an All-Star selection in 2011. Clippard's journey was remarkably peripatetic; he pitched for 11 different teams, a testament to his consistent ability to get outs and his value to contenders at every trade deadline. He finished with over 800 innings of relief work, a quiet engine in the bullpens of baseball's most competitive eras.
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.
Tyler was born in 1985, 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 Tyler Was Born
The biggest hits of 1985
#1 Movie
Back to the Future
Best Picture
Out of Africa
#1 TV Show
Dynasty
Tyler's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1985Born
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1990Started school
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1998Became a teenager
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2001Could drive
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2003Could vote
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
2006Turned 21
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
2015Turned 30
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 40
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 41 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Selected to the MLB All-Star Game in 2011 as a member of the Washington Nationals.
- Led all National League pitchers in appearances with 78 in the 2010 season.
- Pitched in 11 postseason series across his career with four different franchises.
- Recorded 67 saves and 634 strikeouts over 15 major league seasons.
Did You Know?
He is one of only a handful of pitchers to have played for both the New York Yankees and the New York Mets.
Clippard was originally drafted as a starting pitcher and made his MLB debut in that role for the Yankees in 2007.
He and his wife founded the 'Clippard Family Foundation' which supports military families and children's health.
He wore his baseball socks in a distinctive high style throughout his career.
“My job was to get outs, and a good changeup makes hitters look foolish.”
