They swing from both sides of the plate. They maximize the time to see the pitch. They get a head start to first base. They come from many different positions (even catcher, Ted Simmons).
To name a few, some are speedy (Tim Raines, Willie Wilson, Vince Coleman, Don Buford, Chili Davis, Gary Templeton, Willie McGee, Maury Wills, Ozzie Smith) while others rely a bit more on pop (Howard Johnson, Ken Singleton, Ruben Sierra, Bobby Bonilla, George Davis, Roy White and Bernie Williams).
One team, the 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers’ infield of Wes Parker, first base; Jim Lefebvre, second base, Jim Gilliam, third base; and Maury Wills, shortstop were all switch hitters. They won the World Series.
A lot have tried, but comparatively few succeed. If as Ted Williams said ‘hitting a baseball is the hardest thing in sports’ then hitting from both sides is really hard. 
With the news that switch-hitter Carlos Beltran will now ply his talents for the San Francisco Giants… who are the Top 9 of all-time?
Holder of the National League record for most single season RBIs (136) as a switch hitter.
8 Roberto Alomar
All-star a dozen times and just voted into the Hall of Fame
7 Frankie Frisch,
Hit .316, the highest lifetime batting average for a switch-hitter.
Three time winner of the Silver Slugger Award (best offensive player at each position in both the American League and the National League, as determined by the coaches and managers) in 2009 he led the AL in both home runs (tied with Carlos Pena of Tampa Bay) with 39 and RBI with 122.
5 Chipper Jones
Only switch-hitter to have at least 400 home runs and a .300 batting average
4 Reggie Smith
The only switch-hitter with 100 HR in each the AL and NL and the only player to homer from both sides of the plate in a game twice in each league. But the intangible, something that goes beyond stolen bases and a rifle arm is a fiery Bob Gibson-esque drive to win that inspired teammates.
3 Pete Rose
44-game hitting streak in 1978 and more than 4,000 hits in his career leading MLB in games, plate appearances, at-bats, and hits.
2 Eddie Murray
Leads all switch-hitters with 1,917 RBIs. He was the 1983 American League Rookie of the Year and finished his career with over 3,000 hits and 500 homers.
Triple Crown winner revolutionized the art of switch hitting by belting 536 home runs in his career, winning three MVPs and a key part of 7 world championship Yankee teams.
