A's of the Decade: Shortstop – Miguel Tejada

Years: 1997 – 2003

Other Candidates: Bobby Crosby (2004-2008); Orlando Cabrera (2009)

Summary: I should come clean and admit that I wasn't as smitten with "Miggy" as most of my fellow A's fans. He had a frustratingly long "always wants to be the hero" swing; he could loaf up the first base line with the best worst of 'em and his baseball IQ approached single digits sometimes. Still, he put that 2002 team on his back, much like Jason Giambi did in 2000-01. Considering the corpse who played SS for Oakland during the rest of the decade, Tejada wins this in a landslide.

Favorite A's Moment: On September 1, 2002, the A's were holding on to a 4-2 lead in the top of the ninth against Minnesota and on the verge of winning their 18th straight game. SP Mark Mulder surrendered back-to-back home runs to the immortal Matt LeCroy and Corey Koskie tying the game. Closer Billy Koch then gave up a bomb to Michael Cuddyer before retiring the side. With two runners on and one out in the bottom of the ninth, Tejada homered off of Twins closer Eddie Guardado giving Oakland their 18th straight win, 8-5. If I'd celebrated today like I did on that day, the resulting asthma attack would kill me.

Runner-Up: [Left blank on principle.]

Worst of the Decade: Bobby Crosby