Rodriguez	Seanez	Winchester	Mondesi

TEAM: Rieckmann Sums
OWNER: Todd Rieck
ESTABLISHED: 1987
CHAMPI0NSHIPS: 1
YEARLY FINISHES: 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 7, 3, 10, 7, 11, 10, 12, 4
MANAGER: Homer Summa-OF in the 20's, sort of an ancient version of Mike Kingery.
HISTORY: The Rieckmann Sums began as one of the seven charter members of BLOBB in 1987. They are known as perhaps the most loyal (cautious??) of the owners, making few trades and often keeping their star players for a period of years.

They began team history by placing second in 1987 behind the Ticks. Behind the bat of Eric Davis and league leading totals in saves and steals, the Sums established themselves as early perennial contenders.

Although slipping to third in 1988, the Sums continued to build on their reputation of solid pitching.

This pitching brilliance culminated in the league title in 1989, edging out the upstart Thewsker Dus.

1991 began the Lee Smith era in Sumland as the Sums led the league in ERA and saves behind big Lee. However, it was not enough to defend their title as they once again fell to second behind the rejuvenated Pauly Ticks.

Although still in contention, the Sum slide continued in 92 as the Sums fell to third despite a rotation that included such aces as Denny Martinez and Mike Morgan.

The Sums hit rock bottom in 1993, battling it out in the bowels of the standings. The doom and gloom was foreshadowed at the draft when GM Todd Rieck left speechless and stunned with the debacle which was his 93 draft.

1994 saw the resurgence of the Sums. Despite a seemingly average team, the Sums crept into third place behind the bat of Matt Williams and a solid pitching staff led by several youngsters.

In 1995 the Sums slid back into the pits of the BLOBB with a tenth place finish.

The Sums began �96 with Sum legends Matt Williams and Craig Biggio already in the fold and ready to lead the team to hallowed ground. However, the team proved to be undistinguished in nearly every way, finishing in seventh place overall. This was a team of little character and seriously lacking in identity, accumulating midline pitchers and scuffling along in nearly every category. And yet, the worst was yet to come!

The 1997 version of the Sums was lacking in talent from the start, yet suffered devastating injuries to Al Martin, Brian Jordan right off the bat, dooming their hitting. The Sums spent much of the year in the cellar before a late season surge from the starting pitchers lifted them into 11th place.

The Sums slump continued in 1998 as the Sums stumbled to a distant 10th place finish. Poor power numbers and miserable pitching contributed equally to the lost season. John Olerud supplied surprising numbers while Shane Andrews was a pleasant surprise with 25 homers (though with a .238 AVG).

In 1999, the Sums hit rock bottom, finishing dead last for their third consecutive bottom 3 finish. Poor power numbers and poor starting pitching propelled the Sums to the cellar (though with a league record high for number of points for a last place team with 40). Starting catchers Todd Hundley and Eli Marrero "summed" up the season as they combined to hit .199 in 675 at bats.

The Sums ended a five year money draught and a 3 year string of basement level finishes as they took 4th place in 2000. The Sums were a balanced club, excelling only in steals, in large part due to Luis Castillo and his 62 stolen bases. Brian Giles was the big power guy in the lineup with 35 homers and 120+ RBI�s. Despite the loss of Billy Wagner, the Sums pieced together a pitching staff behind journeymen such as Garrett Stephenson and Dave Veres.

BEST TRADE: : The Thewsker Dus, freshly returned from a two year stint in Germany, obviously didn't have the willpower to resist the Sums persistence/annoyance. So, at the trading deadline in 1991, the Sums acquired closer Stan Belinda and John Kruk for the magnificent foursome of Pedro Guerrero (out for the year with a bum knee), journeyman Vicente Palacios, washed up Ken Oberkfell, and stiff Mark Gardner. What made the trade even better for the Sums was that both Belinda and Kruk were splendid keepers for the next year. The Sums reaped benefits from this trade as late as 1993.

WORST TRADE: Hard to determine since the Sums have made so few trades. However, trading Stan Belinda, Mark Carreon, and Todd Jones to the Pauly Ticks for Vince "Boom, Boom" Coleman and Trevor Hoffman (pre-closer days) in 1993 would have to be it. The Sums, buried in last place in steals and running away with the saves categories, dealt for Vincent Van Go Go in order to make a push for the money positions. The ever-stable Coleman went 2 for 20 with no homers, ribbies, or steals and then sat out the rest of the season for tossing around firecrackers at small children. Hoffman spent the year on the Sum reserve list. What saved this trade from being a total disaster was the fact that Belinda was dealt to the AL soon after. Yet, whereas when Belinda departed and was immediately released by the Ticks, Coleman had to remain on the Sums active roster if they wanted to keep him for the following year. The trade was the final nail in the coffin in the Sums season.

FRANCHISE MVP: Craig Biggio

CAREER LEADERS:

AB			H			HR			RBI				
C. Biggio	3174	C. Biggio	936	Ma. Williams	179	Ma. Williams	518		
Ma. Williams	2818	Ma. Williams	779	E. Davis	102	C. Biggio	336	
E. Renteria	2661	E. Renteria	754	B. Giles	74	E. Davis	326	
R. Sandberg	1738	R. Sandberg	491	C. Biggio	70	E. Renteria	253
E. Davis	1675	J. Kruk	        475	R. Sandberg	64	B. Giles	238		

SB			AVG			IP			W			
C. Biggio	166	J. Olerud    	.335	Bo. Jones	660.6	O. Hershiser	39
E. Renteria	147	T. Gwynn	.317	O. Hershiser	531.7	D. Neagle	39
E. Davis   	125	B. Giles	.315	D. Neagle	514	Bo. Jones	35
L. Castillo	115	B. Roberts	.313	M. Morgan	476.3	M. Morgan	30
M. Thompson	79	J. Kruk	        .313	De. Martinez	460.3	De. Martinez	29

SV			RAT			ERA
L. Smith	133	R. Dibble	1.02	T. Henke	1.82
S. Bedrosian	90	J. DeLeon	1.03	J. Franco	2.04
B. Wagner	75	B. Wagner	1.08	R. Dibble	2.09
J. Franco	71	E. Whitson	1.08	Do. Jones	2.17
D. Eckersley	64	J. Smiley	1.09	F. Williams	2.58