Paul Molitor (1978-1992)
Although he spent most of his time as the Milwaukee Brewers designated hitter, Paul Molitor was a versatile defensive player during his prime.
Over the years, he was the Brewers primary first, second, and third baseman, playing well at each position. The primary leadoff hitter in Milwaukee, he led the American League in runs three times. Although he was not Rickey Henderson, Molitor stole 30 or more bases eight times, and hit double digit homers nine times. He was a five time All Star for the Brewers, and won two Silver Slugger awards.
A key part of the lineup, Molitor was the catalyst for the Brewers during the 1980s. He produced an excellent .303/.367/.444 batting line, hitting 160 homers and 405 doubles. Molitor also showed off his solid speed, hitting 89 triples, scoring 1275 runs, and stealing 412 bases. He was a special, if somewhat underrated, player.
Molitor also came through for the Brewers in the postseason. He became the first player to have a five hit game in the World Series, part of a stretch where he had seven consecutive hits. Although Milwaukee fell short, Molitor was not to blame, as he produced a solid .355/.394/.355 batting line in the Fall Classic.
Paul Molitor was a star for the Milwaukee Brewers, and one of the best leadoff hitters of his era. He just happened to play at a time when two of the top leadoff hitters in baseball history were in the game, overshadowing his performance.