45. Miguel Tejada

The Oakland Athletics acquired Miguel Tejada from the Dominican Republic in 1993, as an inexperienced and undeveloped youth escaping severe poverty. By the time he secured a permanent spot on the major league roster in 1997, he introduced an energetic and dynamic style of play to the East Bay that soon came to characterize the left side of the infield. By 1999, as the regular starting shortstop, Tejada broke traditional expectations for the position, emerging alongside Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter as part of a revolutionary movement of elite, power-hitting shortstops who fundamentally transformed the sport.

Tejada quickly became the emotional core and reliable leader of the "Moneyball" era teams. Between 2000 and 2002, he demonstrated exceptional power, hitting over 30 home runs in three straight seasons. His clutch performance was equally notable; he consistently drove in at least 100 runs for four summers from 2000 to 2003, acting as the main run producer while teammates Jason Giambi and Eric Chavez drew walks and created scoring opportunities ahead of him.

Tejada's peak during his time in Northern California came in the unforgettable 2002 season. He played all 162 games, hitting an impressive .308 with 34 home runs and 131 RBIs. He was the key offensive force behind Oakland’s historic 20-game winning streak that summer, securing multiple walk-off wins and establishing himself as a national icon. The baseball community recognized his excellence by voting him the 2002 American League Most Valuable Player, cementing his status as a franchise legend.

Ultimately, small-market financial constraints impacted his tenure. After a successful 2003 season, the front office allowed him to leave as a free agent, and he signed a lucrative deal with the Baltimore Orioles. He left Oakland with 968 hits, 156 home runs, and a reputation for bringing pure joy to the game.

Sadly, Tejada is more known for his 105 Game steroid suspension, and likely lying about his age (he is allegedly two years older than he listed himself to be).  Nevertheless, in his prime, Tejada was one of the great ones.