Ubaldo Jiménez
A Dominican flamethrower who authored one of baseball's most dominant pitching seasons and threw the first no-hitter in Colorado Rockies history.
Born 1984 (age 42)·Dominican baseball player·Birthday: January 22·Millennials
Biography
For a stretch in 2010, Ubaldo Jiménez was the most unhittable pitcher on the planet. With a fastball that sizzled at 100 mph and a devastating splitter, he embodied pure power from the mound. His breakout was a masterpiece: he started the season 15-1 with a sub-2.00 ERA, earning the start for the National League in the All-Star Game. The pinnacle came on April 17, 2010, at Atlanta's Turner Field, where he carved his name into history by pitching the first no-hitter for the Rockies franchise, a masterclass of control and stuff. While consistency later proved elusive, leading to journeys with Cleveland and Baltimore, that magical season in Colorado remains a towering achievement. Jiménez's legacy is that of a pitcher who, at his zenith, possessed an almost mythical level of dominance.
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.
Ubaldo was born in 1984, 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 Ubaldo Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Ubaldo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
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
1997Became a teenager
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
2000Could drive
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
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
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
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Pitched the first no-hitter in Colorado Rockies history on April 17, 2010, against the Atlanta Braves.
- Started the 2010 MLB All-Star Game for the National League after a spectacular first half of the season.
- Finished third in the National League Cy Young Award voting in 2010.
- Threw a complete-game shutout in the 2009 NLDS to help the Rockies win their first playoff series.
Did You Know?
His full name is Ubaldo Jiménez García.
He was signed by the Colorado Rockies as an international free agent in 2001 at the age of 17.
In 2010, he became the first Rockies pitcher to win 15 games before the All-Star break.
He pitched for the Dominican Republic national team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
“When I have my good fastball and splitter working, I feel I can beat anyone.”
