Billy Hamilton was a professional baseball player and a Hall of Fame inductee known for his speed and athleticism. He was widely regarded as one of the greatest players of his era and one of the finest leadoff hitters of all time. Hamilton was a versatile player who was able to play all outfield positions and also had a strong arm. He was an outstanding outfielder with excellent range and was a good hitter for average. Hamilton was able to get on base consistently and was a terror on the basepaths. He had a knack for stealing bases and was one of the first players to master the art of the drag bunt.

Hamilton was a five-time National League batting champion and was the first player to score over 100 runs in a single season. He hit .344 for his career and had a lifetime on-base percentage of .455. He also stole 914 bases, a record that stood until Lou Brock broke it in 1977. Hamilton was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1961.

Billy Hamilton was an exceptional player and a key figure in the development of modern baseball. He helped shape the game as a leadoff hitter and base stealer and was the first player to set the 100-run mark in a single season. He was a five-time batting champion and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1961, cementing his place in the history of the game.