Oakland Athletics All-Time Top 20 Hitters in Franchise History
#16: Miguel Tejada
Shortstop and third baseman Miguel Tejada debuted as an Oakland Athletic in 1997, batting just .202 in 26 games. Over the next seven years, he turned himself into a star athlete for the A’s, including his 2002 season.
In that year, Tejada made his first All-Star Game as he hit .308/.354/.508 and played in all 162 games. He won the MVP Award as he hit 34 home runs and knocked in 131 RBIs, making himself an invaluable part of that year’s Athletics squad.
After his time in Oakland, Tejada signed as a free agent with the Baltimore Orioles, where he continued his All-Star success. He had three outstanding seasons with the O’s before getting dealt to Houston in 2008, and he also spent time with the Padres, Giants and Royals.
Tejada finished his major league career, presumably, in 2013. He was a six-time All-Star with a final career line of .285/.336/.456. Although he isn’t found on many franchise leaderboards, this can be attributed to his short time as an Athletic, rather than any offensive failing on his part.
Next: Top 20 A's Hitters: #15