Román Colón
A towering Dominican right-hander who carved out a decade-long professional pitching career across three continents.
Born 1979 (age 47)·Dominican baseball player·Birthday: August 13·Generation X
Biography
Standing 6'6", Román Colón possessed the imposing frame scouts dream of for a power pitcher. Hailing from the Dominican Republic, he signed as an international free agent and worked his way through the minors before making his Major League debut with the Atlanta Braves in 2004. His MLB journey was that of a resilient journeyman, featuring stops with the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Royals, often working out of the bullpen. When opportunities in the majors waned, Colón showcased his adaptability and love for the game by continuing his career overseas. He pitched successfully in the Korean Baseball Organization for the Kia Tigers and later in Taiwan's Chinese Professional Baseball League, proving his talent had a global reach before retiring as a well-traveled veteran of the game.
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.
Román 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 Román Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Román'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
- Pitched in Major League Baseball for the Atlanta Braves, Detroit Tigers, and Kansas City Royals over parts of five seasons.
- Played professionally in the KBO League for the Kia Tigers in South Korea.
- Extended his career by pitching in the Chinese Professional Baseball League for the Chinatrust Brothers in Taiwan.
Did You Know?
He stands 6 feet 6 inches tall.
He bats and throws right-handed.
His full name is Román Benedicto Colón.
“I trusted my fastball and challenged every hitter with it.”
