Willy Taveras
A blur on the basepaths whose elite speed defined his game and helped propel the Colorado Rockies to a historic World Series run.
Born 1981 (age 45)·Dominican baseball player·Birthday: December 25·Millennials
Biography
Willy Taveras burst into the majors not with a powerful bat, but with legs that could change the geometry of a game. Signed by the Cleveland Indians out of the Dominican Republic, he made his name with the Houston Astros, where his breathtaking speed made him a constant stolen base threat and a defensive asset in center field. His career peaked with the Colorado Rockies in 2007, a season where his league-leading 33 bunt hits and aggressive baserunning were integral to the team's unforgettable 21-of-22 win streak and subsequent pennant capture. While his offensive approach was often unconventional, his pure speed made him a uniquely disruptive force during his seven-season major league tenure.
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.
Willy was born in 1981, 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 Willy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1981
#1 Movie
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Best Picture
Chariots of Fire
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Willy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1981Born
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
1986Started school
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1994Became a teenager
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
1997Could drive
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
1999Could vote
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Turned 21
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2011Turned 30
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 40
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 45 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Led the National League with 68 stolen bases in 2008 while playing for the Colorado Rockies.
- Was a starting center fielder for the 2007 Colorado Rockies team that won the National League pennant.
- Recorded a 30-game hitting streak in 2006, the longest by a Houston Astros rookie in franchise history.
Did You Know?
He was originally signed by the Cleveland Indians as an amateur free agent in 1999.
His 33 bunt hits in 2007 are a modern-era single-season record for the Colorado Rockies.
He played for Team Dominican Republic in the 2009 World Baseball Classic.
“If I get on base, I'm thinking two bases, not one.”
