Gwynn	Rojas	Snow	Santiago

TEAM: Iguanas
OWNER: Randy Ruhland
ESTABLISHED: 1991
CHAMPI0NSHIPS: 0
YEARLY FINISHES: 7, 4, 6, 5, 7, 4, 6, 11, 3, 11
MANAGER: Mike Ignasiak-pitcher
HISTORY: : The Iguanas entered the league in 1991, retaining the name of the Braves from a previous owner, establishing a tradtion of solid pitching behind the likes of Doug Drabek and young phenom Steve Avery. However, a feeble offense (last in HR and RBI) doomed them to seventh place.

Seeking a new direction, team GM Randy Ruhland changed the team name to the Iguanas. They again assembled a star studded pitching corps, then traded for hitting stars such as Tony Gwynn on their way to a coveted money position, concluding their third year in fourth place. Year highlights included leading the league in ERA and ratio despite trading away Cy Young winner Greg Maddux.

In 1993 the once-again hitting impoverished (7 total points) Iguanas once again finished in the middle of the pack. Despite stellar seasons from John Wetteland and Billy Swift, the Iggies could just never muster the hitting to compete for the money. In 1994, the Iguanas still could not find the winning combination. A solid team; the Iguanas were killed by a last place finish in steals (Fred McGriff and Joe Girardi ranked #2 and #3 on the team), placing them but a half-point out of the money.

The lead footed Iguanas finished last in the league in steals again in 1995 on their way to a seventh place finish. The '95 version of the running reptiles featured a strong group of starting pitchers as usual, led by John Smoltz, Frank Castillo, and Pedro Martinez. The team also featured the only player in BLOBB history to remain on a roster the entire season and never manage a hit: Nigel Wilson (0 for 7).

In 1996 the Iguanas altered their approach a bit, going after more hitting than in past years, acquiring surprising Steve Finley, Tony Gwynn, Eric Karros, Todd Zeile, and Al Matin to raise their hitting to respectability (Despite the loss of Dave Justice for the year). This, paired with their usual outstanding pitching (first in saves and wins, third in RAT) propelled the Iguanas into fourth place.

The Iguanas continued their hitting trend in 1997 behind the continued excellence of Tony Gwynn and his sudden power (17 HR, 119 RBI). But uncharacteristic starting pitching problems kept them just out of the money with a sixth place finish.

For the first time in their history, the Iguanas were not a middle division finisher (places 4-7) in 1998 as they stumbled along to an 11th place finish for their worst season ever. The Iguanas featured feeble offense, speed, and pitching. Todd Helton emerged as a rising star and Kevin Brown was his dominating self, but injuries and down years doomed the Iguanas.

The Iguanas were a quiet team for most of 1999, but despite their relatively few moves, they had a pretty darn good year and snuck into 3rd place late in the season. Sespite not having any bullpen to speak of and dreadful ratio, the Iguanas stockpiled excellent hitting (league high 39 hitting points)and serviceable starting pitching. Perhaps the biggest move of the year was drafting Roger Cedeno and his 50+ steals in the second round of the reserve draft to go with Tony Womack, Pokey Reese, and Marquis Grissom to dominate the steals category.

In 2000 it was back to the bottom as the Iguanas finished in 11th place thanks to a whopping total of 5 pitching points. The Iguanas spent their money on a solid cast of mid-level hitters as 9 different lizards hit 10 or more homers, led by Jim Edmonds and Richard Hidalgo. However, their bargain basement pitching staff was a disgrace with only Chan Ho Park and Mike Williams putting up ERAs less than 4.00.

BEST TRADE:
The Pauly Ticks, fearing the impending trade of Andre Dawson, not to mention his bad knees,place him on the trading block. The same week, the Ticks read in the Sporting News that Tick legend, "the Straw man" says he is healthy and ready for a monster season. So, the Iguanas send Darryl Strawberry and Derrick May to the Ticks for Andre Dawson and Willie McGee. Straw hits one home run and then calls it quits for the year with back surgery. Dawson stays with the Iguanas all year and has his regular solid season and McGee hits around .300. In a cruel bit of irony, the Iguanas trade for the Straw man the following year after a similar statement made by Darryl. Needless to say, about a week or so later, Straw goes down for the year. Some people never learn.

WORST TRADE:
The Iguanas trade Al Martin, Steve Traschel,and Allen Watson to the Sums for Matt Williams in an effort to move up the cluttered home run standings during the pennant race of 1996. Unfortunately for the Iggies, Williams goes down within a week, thereby ending any hopes of going for the title.

FRANCHISE MVP: Eric Karros

CAREER LEADERS:

AB			H			HR			RBI	
E. Karros	2732	T. Gwynn	777	E. Karros	123	E. Karros	430
S. Finley	2346	E. Karros	723	S. Finley	109	S. Finley	338
T. Gywnn	2224	S. Finley	669	T. Helton	60	T. Gwynn	335
T. Wallach	1665	T. Wallach	412	F. McGriff	56	K. Caminiti	234
K. Caminiti	1451	T. Helton	408	K. Caminiti	53	T. Wallach	222
			
SB			AVG			IP			W	
T. Womack	117	T. Gwynn	.349	D. Drabek	646.3	J. Smoltz	44
D. DeShields	103	L. Walker	.347	S. Traschel	620.7	B. Swift	44
R. Cedeno	83	E. Burks	.344	S. Avery	617.3	K. Brown	43
S. Finley	78	J. Treadway	.320	K. Brown	592.7	S. Trachsel	39
M. Grissom	77	T. Helton	.318	J. Smoltz	591.3	S. Avery	36
		
SV			RAT			ERA
J. Wetteland	105	G. Maddux	0.96	De. Martinez	1.71
R. Nen	        99	J. Berenguer	0.99	J. Berenguer	2.22		
M. Rojas	53	De. Martinez	1.01	J. Wetteland	2.32
Mk. Williams	24	J. Innis	1.05	G. Maddux	2.41
J. Brantley	19	K. Brown	1.08 	J. Rijo		2.48