Zack Britton
The left-handed sinkerballer whose historic 2016 season, featuring 47 consecutive saves, redefined the role of the lockdown closer.
Born 1987 (age 39)·American baseball player·Birthday: December 22·Millennials
Biography
Zack Britton didn't just close games; he suffocated them with one of the most devastating pitches of his era. Converted from a starter to a reliever, he unlocked his potential with a turbocharged sinker that dove violently at the plate, inducing a torrent of ground balls. His 2016 campaign with the Baltimore Orioles was a masterpiece of relief pitching, setting an American League record with 47 consecutive saves and posting a microscopic 0.54 ERA. That season, he didn't allow an earned run for over four months, a stretch of dominance that made him nearly untouchable. While a controversial decision not to use him in the 2016 Wild Card game became part of baseball lore, it doesn't diminish his peak, which saw him as the most reliable bullpen arm in the sport. Arm injuries later slowed him, but his signature pitch left a permanent mark on the game.
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.
Zack was born in 1987, 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 Zack Was Born
The biggest hits of 1987
#1 Movie
Three Men and a Baby
Best Picture
The Last Emperor
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Zack's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1987Born
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1992Started school
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
2000Became a teenager
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
2003Could drive
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
2005Could vote
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
2008Turned 21
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2017Turned 30
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 39 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Set an American League record with 47 consecutive saves converted during the 2016 season.
- Finished 4th in Cy Young Award voting in 2016 after posting a 0.54 ERA, the lowest ever for a pitcher with 50+ innings.
- Was selected to the MLB All-Star team in both 2015 and 2016.
- Led all MLB relievers in ground ball rate for multiple seasons, often exceeding 75%.
Did You Know?
His signature sinker was clocked as averaging 96 mph in 2016, an extraordinary velocity for a pitch with so much movement.
He and his brother, Buck Britton, were both drafted by the Baltimore Orioles organization.
He was originally drafted as a starting pitcher and made 46 starts in the minors before transitioning to the bullpen.
He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2022, which ultimately led to his retirement.
“My sinker isn't thrown to be hit; it's thrown to be beaten into the ground.”
