By Blaidd Drwg
In case you don’t know who Billy Hamilton was, he was a speedy outfielder who played from 1888-1901, and depending on whose numbers you go by, stole somewhere between 750 and 900 bases in his career and happens to be a Hall of Famer. Billy Hamilton is also a 21 year old speedy infielder, currently in the Reds minor league system at class A Bakersfield.
Why do I mention this? Well, the current incarnation has plenty in common with his predecessor. (And no, I can’t find any evidence they are related). Last year at Class A Dayton, Billy Hamilton Mark 2 stole 103 bases in 123 attempts in 135 games. This season, Hamilton has stolen 101 bases in 122 attempts in just 80 games. Considering his pace, he can pass the “modern” minor league stolen base mark (since 1962) of 145 set by Vince Coleman (more on him in a minute) back in 1983. Hamilton probably has a great chance of doing this since he is sporting a 413 OBP and a 322 BA and playing in the California League where high altitudes and hot, dry nights cause a little additional offense.
I don’t know if Billy Hamilton will ever have much of a career in the majors, since he doesn’t hit for any power (career 389 SLG in the minors) and is really not a good fielding SS (career 937 fielding percentage) but he might stick around for a few season as a reserve OF/pinch runner type guy (see Otis Nixon) based on his 80% success rate in stealing bases.
Back to Vince Coleman for a minute – I had actually stumbled upon his 145 SB stat a few weeks ago when I was reading the back of his baseball card. Did you know he was only one of three players to have 3 – 100 SB seasons (and the only one to do it 3 consecutive years)? The other ones – Rickey Henderson and none other than the original Billy Hamilton. How’s that for bring this back around full circle?
FlatbreadGarden 
You didn’t mention Billy Hamilton 1.0’s great nickname — “Sliding” Billy Hamilton.
Alexander Hamilton does look like he’s ready to swipe a base. He can see the intent in his eyes.
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I had intended on using a picture of Alexander Hamilton with a different snarky caption, but then I saw this and thought the exact same thing that you did. I thought is was one of my better captions.
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More likely of course, is that there’s a woman across the room he’s checking out. We’re moments from “Hey baby, come to the White House often?”
A little more seriously, it looks like he’s leaping up to grab his hat and go do something important. I think that might be his saber under the hat.
Checking wikipedia:
“Hamilton served in the American Revolutionary War. At the start of the war, he organized an artillery company and was chosen as its captain. He later became the senior aide-de-camp and confidant to General George Washington, the American commander-in-chief. He served again under Washington in the army raised to defeat the Whiskey Rebellion, a tax revolt of western farmers in 1794.”
That would fit with the sword and hat thing, though there was only a four year overlap between the White House being completed and Hamilton’s death, which makes my supposed White House setting unlikely.
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Here’s piece about Hamilton on SI.com today:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/albert_chen/07/23/billy-hamilton-reds-stolen-base-record/index.html?eref=sihp&sct=hp_wr_a1
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