TEAM: Masupials (DEFUNCT)
OWNER: Loren Polansky
ESTABLISHED: 1993
CHAMPI0NSHIPS: 1
YEARLY FINISHES: 8, 9, 1, 10, 12
MANAGER: Craig Shipley (assisted by Graeme Lloyd and Dave Nilsson)
HISTORY: Originally the Inebriated Indians, named after Steve Olin and Tim Crews, they became the Marsupials after protests from the political left. They entered BLOBB in 1993 as an expansion team. Showing they would not be intimidated by the big guns in the league, their first player acquisition was Tick topper and demi-god Ray Lankford. Preferring to plunk down big bucks for other stars such as Doug Drabek, the Marsupials proved to be an interesting team in their initial season despite finishing ninth. They challenged some of the middle of the road teams for much of the year before a pathetic bullpen (7 saves) and a dose of expansion reality pulled them down to their final position.

1994 was the year of "The Plan". If "The Plan" consisted of acquiring the worst infield (and perhaps hitting squad) in BLOBB history, then it definitely was a success. All in all, it was a regression from their expansion year, falling to ninth place.

And yet, just as the Marsupials seemed to be solidifying themselves as a chronic second division team, the BLOBB's version of the '69 Mets, '80 US Olympic hockey team, and '95 Northwestern Wildcats occurred. Despite not leading the league a single week all season, (and even finding themselves as low as tenth as late as late July) the Marsupials found themselves in first place on the final week. Keyed by a late season scrub win from Blas Minor and Barry Larkin's unexpected surge of youth in his legs, the Marsupials shocked the establishment in '95!

Reality is often a harsh jolt to our egos as the Marsupials discovered in 1996 as they learned about the difficulty of being the defending champion. Dreadful pitching offset some solid hitters and the luck went the other direction as the Marsupials limped through the season on their way to a tenth place finish.

Things went from bad to worse in 1997 as the Marsupials finished dead last with horrific performances in nearly all categories. Aside from their third place finish in saves, the best category for the Supes was a 9th place finish in ERA. �Nuff said.

Perhaps hoplessly demoralized, the team folded following the 1997 season

BEST TRADE:
In their title year of 1995, the Marsupials trade Darren Holmes, Brad Clontz, and Howard Johnson to Hickory Huskers for Vinny Castilla, Mike Kelly, and Blas Minor. Castilla delivers big numbers to the surging Supes (.304, 12, 36, 2) and Minor supplies timely heroics (see above) while Clontz and Holmes do zippo (ERA's of mid 4.00) for the Huskers.

WORST TRADE:
The Indians trade solid hitters Todd Zeile and Joe Orsulak to the Bums for the oft-injured Chris Sabo. Zeile hits .301 with 14 homers and 80 ribbies badly outclassing Sabo and his .260, 10,42, not to mention the addition of the solid Joe Orsulak.

FRANCHISE MVP: Vinny Castilla

CAREER LEADERS:

AB			H			HR			RBI	
V. Castilla	1738	V. Castilla	510	V. Castilla	100	V. Castilla	288
M. Grudzielanek	1306	M. Grudzielanek	378	B. Larkin	48	B. Larkin	155
B. Larkin	1013	B. Larkin	312	R. Gant		47	R. Gant		144
Ro. Thompson	938	E. Alfonzo	259	S. Sosa		40	E. Alfonzo	112
R. Gant		921	W. McGee	256	Ro. Thompson	29	J. Olerud	102
			
SB			AVG			IP			W	
B. Larkin	87	M. Lewis	.339	D. Drabek	422.7	M. Portugal	26
M. Grudzielanek	58	T. Gwynn	.329	M. Portugal	325.3	P. Martinez	25
B. Butler	39	J. Eisenreich	.316	P. Martinez	315.7	P. Schourek	22
E. Davis	33	B. Larkin	.308	P. Schourek	257.6	D. Drabek	19
A. Martin	29	W. McGee	.300	J. Isringhausen	255	Bo. Jones	15
		
SV			RAT			ERA
R. Beck		37	R. Beck		1.07	M. Freeman	2.49
D. Miceli	23	M. Freeman	1.09	B. Munoz	3.05
T. Adams	22	P. Martinez	1.17	J. Rijo		3.10
D. Plesac	14	B. Clontz	1.17	M. Portugal	3.21		
Ra. Myers	14	F. Cordova	1.18	P. Martinez	3.34