Jon Rauch
A towering figure in baseball history, his 6'11" frame delivered a gold medal and over a decade of formidable relief pitching.
Born 1978 (age 48)·American baseball pitcher·Birthday: September 27·Generation X
Biography
Jon Rauch didn't just take the mound; he loomed over it. At six feet eleven inches, he shared the title of tallest player in Major League Baseball history, a physical anomaly that made every pitch seem like it was dropping from the sky. Drafted by the Chicago White Sox, Rauch's journey was one of resilience, battling back from shoulder surgery early in his career to become a reliable and intimidating relief pitcher. His fastball-slider combination, delivered from such a unique angle, baffled hitters for 11 seasons. Beyond the majors, Rauch achieved a pinnacle of international sport, playing a key role for the United States baseball team that clinched the gold medal at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. His career stands as a testament to how an extraordinary physical gift, paired with perseverance, can carve out a long and decorated professional path.
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.
Jon was born in 1978, 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 Jon Was Born
The biggest hits of 1978
#1 Movie
Grease
Best Picture
The Deer Hunter
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Jon's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1978Born
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1983Started school
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1991Became a teenager
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Could drive
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
1996Could vote
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Turned 21
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2008Turned 30
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
2018Turned 40
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 48 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Tied as the tallest player in MLB history at 6 feet 11 inches.
- Won an Olympic gold medal with the United States baseball team at the 2000 Sydney Games.
- Pitched in 551 major league games over 11 seasons, primarily as a reliever.
- Recorded 62 career saves, including 21 for the Washington Nationals in 2010.
Did You Know?
He wore jersey number 60 for most of his career because 6'11" was not an available option.
He was traded from the White Sox to the Montreal Expos in the deal that sent Carl Everett to Chicago.
He pitched for seven different MLB teams during his career.
“At my height, the release point is a mystery for the batter to solve.”
