The greatest lead-off hitter of all time, Rickey Henderson, is fittingly number one all-time in lead-off homers. Soriano is second on the list with 54.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZJx4uiHZl8

In 2003, a year that he hit 38 total homers, he smashed 13 lead-off homers for a record.

Martinez has been one of the best hitters in baseball for a few years now, but he brought to a new level in 2014. Ever since his first All-Star season in 2004, he’s been a lock for 20 homers and 100 RBI kind of guy.

In his two Detroit seasons, he’s been known for his batting average with the best hitter on the planet in the lineup. In 2011, he hit .330. In 2013, he hit .301, but a .361 in the second half.

So how could he possibly get better?

First of all, he had a power explosion. He hit a career high 32 bombs, which is pretty neat for a 35-year-old.

Second of all, his plate discipline was remarkable. He led the league in OBP with .409 and had a K to BB ration of 42:70. Heck, he only had 10 more strikeouts than he did homers!

Whatever Grant Balfour and Chris Sale say, V-Mart, you the man!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSWB0S3zXyQ

After being released by the Astros, the Tigers picked up Martinez’s contract and assigned him to Triple-A. He was soon called up; surely not even the Tigers knew what they were going to get. Martinez hit .315 with 23 bombs, securing him self as the second best Martinez on his team.

Playing in center field in Cincinnati, Billy showed why being the fastest man in baseball made him one of the best defensive players.

He made our Plays of the Week six times!

Here are some great Billy Hamilton defense highlights.

2013 gave us a little sample size of Billy Hamilton—13 stolen bases in 13 games—and we all wanted more as many thought of him as a preseason favorite to win the Rookie of the Year.

2014 was really everything fans could ask for. He showed off speed with a whopping 56 stolen bases, which everyone knew would happen. He dismissed some critics by being able to get on base (albeit still not able to get over .300). What really amazed the most was his great defense. A 2014 Gold Glover perhaps?

Here are some great speed highlights.

Yankee fans have been waiting on Betances for quite some time now. All fans will admit that he was worth every year of the wait. Now in his third season, it’s hard to come to realization that the stud is only 26.

In his rookie year, Betances became arguably the most valuable reliever in baseball with his ability to get out the starter’s jams and then pitch the next inning clean. The stats were there: 1.40 ERA, 130 strikeouts, and a sizable 90.0 innings pitched. Even without the stats, he passed the eye test as well; his fastball topped off at 100 mph and his curveball broke with mid-80’s velocity.

This was one of the best pitching performances by a reliever.

I think we all could have expected Gordon to shine this defensively this postseason with his three Gold Gloves. The is the fourth week that he’s appeared on the list.

So much has changed for Matt since his break out year in 2009, hasn’t it? He dated Rihanna in 2010, had one of the greatest seasons in recent memory in 2011, got paid a gigantic contract, and had injury shortened seasons in 2012 and 2013. 2014 was the weirdest year yet; at times Kemp was benched as a fourth outfielder, he lost his job in center field, and there were major rumors about him being traded away. At the end of the day, he stayed a Dodger and had an amazing second-half, and baseball is good when Kemp is good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aRXIzV5QxUQ&list=PLL-lmlkrmJamx48Xs3ioROixoOWsohAt-&index=8

With the game tied in the 8th, Kemp put his team back ahead. Kemp had a good post season while it lasted, hitting .353.

For the 2014 NL Wild Card game, the Giants called for their starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner. Bumgarner has had postseason experience before, most notably when he pitched eight shutout innings in the 2010 World Series as a 20-year-old.

Now at 25 years, he is one of the best pitchers in the game. In each of the last two seasons, he has had a sub-3.00 ERA and 200+ innings. Asking him to pitch this game was an easy decision for the Giants.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5JnfD5q9Yg&list=PLL-lmlkrmJamx48Xs3ioROixoOWsohAt-&index=54

With this complete game shutout, Bumgarner now has a new best game of his career, topping his 2010 World Series start. His celebration after the game said it all: he chugged four beers down at once.