José Valentín
A versatile and powerful switch-hitting infielder known for his surprising home run pop and reliable glove at multiple positions.
Born 1969 (age 57)·Puerto Rican baseball player·Birthday: October 12·Generation X
Biography
José Valentín carved out a 16-year major league career not with flashy stardom, but with steady, valuable production. The Puerto Rican infielder broke in with the Milwaukee Brewers, establishing himself as a dependable shortstop with a potent bat from both sides of the plate. His power was his calling card; he twice hit 30 home runs in a season, a rare feat for a middle infielder in his era. Valentín's versatility became an asset later in his career with the Chicago White Sox and New York Mets, where he adeptly handled second and third base. He was a key, under-the-radar component of the 2006 Mets team that dominated the National League. Valentín played the game with a quiet intensity, respected by teammates for his professionalism and his knack for delivering in big spots, culminating in a World Series appearance with the Mets.
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.
José was born in 1969, 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 José Was Born
The biggest hits of 1969
#1 Movie
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Best Picture
Midnight Cowboy
#1 TV Show
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
José's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1969Born
Apollo 11: humans walk on the Moon; Woodstock festival
Gas: $0.35/galHome: $15,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Sugar, Sugar" — The ArchiesBest Picture: Midnight Cowboy
1974Started school
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1982Became a teenager
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1985Could drive
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1987Could vote
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
1990Turned 21
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1999Turned 30
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 40
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 50
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 57 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Hit 30 home runs in a season twice (1996, 2004), showcasing rare power for a middle infielder.
- Played in the 2006 National League Championship Series and World Series with the New York Mets.
- Appeared in over 1,600 major league games across four teams over 16 seasons.
- Recorded a career-high 119 OPS+ in 2004 with the Chicago White Sox.
Did You Know?
He and his brother, Javier Valentín, both played in the major leagues and were teammates briefly on the Chicago White Sox.
Valentín was known for using an unusually heavy bat, which contributed to his power.
He played every infield position except first base during his MLB career.
In 2006, he famously hit a walk-off home run for the Mets just days after returning from a knee injury.
“I came to the park ready to play every day, no excuses.”
