J. J. Furmaniak
A versatile journeyman infielder whose major league moment was a memorable first-pitch home run for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American baseball player·Birthday: July 31·Generation X
Biography
J.J. Furmaniak’s baseball career is a classic story of perseverance and a cup of coffee in the big leagues. A late-round draft pick, he spent nearly a decade grinding through the minors, proving his value as a flexible defender who could play almost every infield and outfield position. His persistence paid off with a call-up to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2005. Furmaniak seized his moment in dramatic fashion, hitting a home run on the very first major league pitch he saw—a feat only a handful of players have ever accomplished. That would be the highlight of his brief MLB tenure, which included a later stint with the Oakland Athletics. He continued playing professionally for many more years, becoming a stalwart in the high levels of the minor leagues and independent baseball, respected for his professionalism and utility. His career serves as a reminder of the depth of talent that exists just below the MLB surface.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
J. was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When J. Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
J.'s Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
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
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
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
2000Turned 21
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
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Hit a home run on the first pitch of his first Major League at-bat for the Pittsburgh Pirates on September 10, 2005.
- Played in Major League Baseball for two teams: the Pittsburgh Pirates (2005) and the Oakland Athletics (2007).
- Had a long professional career spanning 16 seasons, including extensive time in Triple-A and independent leagues.
- Was named a Pacific Coast League All-Star in 2007 while playing for the Sacramento River Cats.
Did You Know?
He homered off Chicago Cubs pitcher Glendon Rusch on the first MLB pitch he ever saw.
He played for over 15 different teams across affiliated and independent baseball during his career.
In 2012, he played for the Lancaster Barnstormers in the Atlantic League, managed by former MLB star Butch Hobson.
“You have to be ready for any spot; your glove is your ticket.”
