14. Nate Colbert

When a franchise enters league history for the first time, it relies on key pillars to build its identity from scratch. For the 1969 expansion San Diego Padres, that was Nate Colbert, a powerful hitter from the Houston Astros drafted in expansion. He not only led the struggling team's offense but became its first superstar. As starting first baseman, he brought immediate, impressive power to the field, giving fans a reason to visit San Diego Stadium.

Calling it as it is means recognizing that Colbert was never a refined contact hitter. Throughout his career, he struggled with frequent swing-and-miss issues, recording over 100 strikeouts in five seasons and maintaining a modest .243 batting average with the Padres. However, his lack of pure efficiency was compensated for by his high offensive volume and power in high-pressure situations.

During his first five summers in San Diego, Colbert aimed to hit 20 home runs daily, achieving this every year from 1969 to 1973. His most outstanding season was 1970 with 38 home runs, a feat he repeated in the exceptional 1972 season. That year is remembered as one of the most remarkable displays of individual run production in baseball history. Colbert was a starter in three consecutive All-Star games from 1971 to 1973, but his 1972 performance peaked on August 1st during a historic doubleheader against the Atlanta Braves.

Using a powerful and aggressive approach, Colbert delivered an outstanding performance by hitting five home runs and driving in 13 runs over two games—a record in major league history that still stands. His impressive skill and dominance that summer earned him eighth place in the National League MVP voting, even though he played for a team at the bottom of the standings.

Chronic back issues significantly damaged his physical abilities before the 1974 season, leading to a sudden decline in performance and the loss of his trademark bat speed. With reduced efficiency and the team planning a roster overhaul, the front office orchestrated a clear career exit by trading their original star to the Detroit Tigers in November 1974.

Colbert accumulated 163 taters with the Padres.