Another Reason for Baby Boomers to Feel Old

Boston Red Sox pitcher Tim Wakefield, the oldest man in major league baseball, is one of only five active players born in the 60s.

Baby Boomers are always being reminded how old they are. Born in the 50s. Growing up in the 60s.

Well, here’s another reminder. Only five active major league players were born in the 60s.

Of the five, only two were born in the United States and one each in Canada, Panama and Venezuela. Three were born when LBJ was president, the younger two in the early years of the Nixon Administration. Two were born in the months following Woodstock in late 1969.

Boston’s ageless knuckleballer, Tim Wakefield, is the oldest player in the majors. Wakefield, 44, was born August 2, 1966, in Melbourne, Florida.  He has 193 career wins, 173 with the Red Sox. He trails only Cy Young and Roger Clemens (tied at 192) on the all-time Red Sox win list.

Shortstop Omar Vizquel, born April 24, 1967, has 2,808 hits, 401 stolen bases, and a .273 lifetime batting average. An 11-time Gold Glove winner, Vizquel is a native of Caracas, Venezuela.

Matt Stairs was born February 27, 1968, in St. John, New Brunswick. He has 265 home runs, more than any other active player born in the 60s.

Journeyman lefty reliever Arthur Rhodes, who has toiled for nine teams (including the Mariners twice) in a 20-year career, was born October 24, 1969, in Waco Texas.

And the great Mariano Rivera, born November 29, 1969, in Panama City, Panama, is the youngest active player on the short list. Rivera has 571 saves in his career, just 30 behind all-time saves leader Trevor Hoffman.