Josh Harrison
A sparkplug utility player whose infectious energy and clutch hitting made him a fan favorite and a two-time All-Star in Pittsburgh.
Born 1987 (age 39)·American baseball player·Birthday: July 8·Millennials
Biography
Josh Harrison carved out a 12-year Major League Baseball career not with overwhelming physical tools, but with versatility, hustle, and a knack for timely hits. Drafted by the Chicago Cubs, he found his home with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where his ability to play almost every position on the field made him invaluable. Standing just 5'8", Harrison played with a palpable joy and intensity that endeared him to fans. His breakout came in 2014 when he earned his first All-Star selection, hitting over .300 and finishing ninth in MVP voting. He repeated as an All-Star in 2017, the same year he played a key role off the bench for Team USA, helping them secure their first World Baseball Classic gold medal. After his time in Pittsburgh, he became a respected veteran journeyman, bringing his trademark grit to several clubs before retiring in 2024.
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.
Josh 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 Josh 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
Josh'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
- Selected as a National League All-Star in both 2014 and 2017 with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
- Won a gold medal with Team USA at the 2017 World Baseball Classic.
- Finished the 2014 season with a .315 batting average, ranking ninth in NL MVP voting.
Did You Know?
He played seven different defensive positions during the 2014 season.
Harrison was a standout three-sport athlete in high school in Cincinnati.
He and his wife founded a charitable organization focused on youth outreach in Pittsburgh.
He recorded the first hit in the history of the Field of Dreams game in Iowa in 2021.
“I just want to be known as a guy who played the game the right way and left it all out there.”
