About
Us
G.U.S.S.O.M.O. is the oldest, continuous Computer (formerly Play-By- Mail) Strat-O-Matic Draft Baseball League in the United States. Our League started in 1971 as a "straight team" replay (league members managed the actual Major League teams).
Jeff Fleischman is the Commissioner of the League. Jeff "volunteered" to take over the reigns of the league shortly after the beginning of the first year when the original Commissioner (who was in the Air Force at the time) informed all the Original league members that he was being transferred from Northern California to Germany and would not be able to continue running the League. He sent all the League material paperwork and statistics (minus, of course, the league treasury/dues) to Jeff who has been running the League ever since.
At the time that Jeff took over as Commissioner, our league did not have a name. Jeff felt that he needed to come up with a name for the League that captured the geographical expanse of our organization (taking into consideration the names that other Play-by-Mail leagues in the late 60's and early 70's were using. Many of the other leagues had names that started with the"Greater This or Greater That"). With this in mind, Jeff decided to call our League "The Greater United States Strat-O-Matic Organization." While perhaps not the most creative league name, for 39+ years, many people have heard of us and participated in a great S-O-M League that is simply known as.... G.U.S.S.O.M.O.
We have had many members over the years..... however, many of our managers that have been in G.U.S.S.O.M.O. for well over 25 years! The average number of years that a current manager has been in our league is about 20 years. Larry Steinberg (from Chicago) is the only other manager from our first season that is still in the league. Larry took a couple of years off from the league (many years ago). Larry has been in the League for 36 years. Nick Romano and Ralph Polumbo have been solid members for 32 years. Dave "Peach" Taylor has guided the Georgia Crackers for 31 years and Mike Lefkow will be starting his 30th year in the League.
One the best parts of G.U.S.S.O.M.O. (and perhaps the key factor with regards to the longevity of our league) is the camaraderie and the friendships that have been formed over the years. It is truly amazing to look back on the beginning of G.U.S.S.O.M.O. and realize that most of the managers were in High School or Junior High School. An even scarier fact is that some of the current managers in G.U.S.S.O.M.O. weren't even born when the League started... back in 1971. The Commissioner remembers very clearly the first time he met one of the current league members (Ralph Polumbo) in 1981. "While taking vacation on the East Coast, I had the opportunity to meet Ralph at his home when he lived in Connecticut. Ralph and his wife Alice were very friendly and hospitable. We did some site-seeing, went out to dinner with another manager (Earl Brock) and his wife. Ralph and Alice were also the parents of two very small boys. I remember that one of their sons was sitting in a baby seat/highchair in the kitchen. I can't remember if it was John or Will, but in any event... both of Ralph's son's are now in the league, married and have kids of their own!.... and by the way... they are both very good managers! (O.K., it was probably Will in the car seat... he's younger... and now that I think about it... he just might be a better manager than his brother John, who graduated from Syracuse University and is employed as a television/news/broadcast producer near Jackson, Mississippi). Will has finished up his studies at the University of Michigan and is working is sales/product management for an industrial equipment company. He also is trying to keep the Polumbo "tradition" of League Championships alive, as he is facing Seattle in the 2009 World Series.
A few other things about G.U.S.S.O.M.O. While only a hobby, has played a big part in many of the managers lives for many years. We've done a lot of "interesting" things over the years .... from being a bunch of "crazy teenagers" running loose. "down by the East River and riding the subways at 2 AM in New York City (we went to the 2nd SOM convention at Abraham & Strauss in 1973) ... to playing some of our games over the phone. In fact, Jeff reportedly played the first SOM League game versus an opponent on the phone "long distance." The game was played versus another league member... and both managers rolled their dice inning by inning for their own teams, reading off the results as the game progressed. Jeff lived in Southern California at the time while the other manager lived in Ohio.
Many years ago, our League started having an annual "Get-Together". The Get-Together is usually in the city of one of our League members. Over the years we have had our get-togethers in cities such as Chicago, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Cincinati, Detroit, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Denver, San Francisco/San Jose and Minneapolis. At least 1/2 of the league members (plus wifes and families) usually attend our "long weekend" Get-Togethers. Most of the time, a host manager makes all the arrangements for the group of managers... including Hotel Suites (with a meeting room so we all can play of our games face-to-face... with lap top computers spread all around the room), barbecues at the host's home, and tickets to a Major League Baseball game. It should also be noted that our League prides itself on being a "class organization." While playing our games is what the Get-Togethers are all about, we have made it a point to promote a certain level of style and "culture" for our members. Over the years, we have made time to attend some of the best local "ballets." including the little known, but very popular "Cowboy Show" in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.
As many of the members travel around the country (today, it's usually on business), we seem to make it a point to try to get together with the manager/friend that lives in that particular city. Isn't it crazy how a game can lead grown men to still act like kids?
It's hard to believe that G.U.S.S.O.M.O. has been around for so long.... but we're all still just having fun... and I suppose that we'll keep on rolling... or (as the case is nowadays) pushing those computer keys... for years to come.
Larry Steinberg and I said as a "joke" many, many years ago that...
Strat-O-Matic is "a tie that binds.".... or is that a "bind that ties?" Well, it's bought a lot of people together as friends... and it's been a lot of fun.
Guess you could say that it has wound up being a pretty long standing "joke!"
Anyway, for those of you that are or have been in our League... thanks!
For those of you that are reading this... thank you for your interest. Maybe someday you too will be able to be a part of our group and experience all the fun and enjoyment that this league has brought many of us over the past 38 years.
Commissioner
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WRITTEN PRIOR TO OUR 2006
GET-TOGETHER IN PITTSBURGH, PA ---
The one constant through all the years, Guys, has been
G.U.S.S.O.M.O. Strat-O Leagues have rolled by like an army
of steamrollers. They have been erased like a blackboard,
rebuilt, and erased again. But G.U.S.S.O.M.O. has marked the
time. This League, this game, is a part of our past, Guys.
It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be
again. Oh people will come, Guys.. People will most
definitely come to Pittsburgh.
See all you Guys in a couple of days!
Jeff
Original League Members ..... 1971
New York Yankees - Tony Orsini (Bounderbrook, New Jersey)
Detroit Tigers - John Ladd (Ross, California)
Boston Red Sox - Mike Bonilla (Warren, Michigan)
Baltimore Orioles - Jeff Fleischman (Downey, California)
Cleveland Indians - Sal Restifo (Palisades Park, New Jersey)
Milwaukee Brewers - Jim Ladd (Ross, California)
Chicago White Sox - Daniel Garza (Posin, Illinois)
Oakland Athletics - Marty Cogburn (Lafayette, California)
Kansas City Royals - Thomas Angel (Ocala, Florida)
Texas (Washington) - Mike Baitinger (Ypsilanti, Michigan)
Minnesota Twins - Larry D. Steinberg (Skokie, Illinois)
California Angels - Mike Volberding (Bellevue, Washington)
Chicago Cubs - Steve Grant (Highland Park, Illinois)
New York Mets - Ken Brinkley (Poplar, California)
Pittsburgh Pirates - Ed Grant (Highland Park, Illinois)
Philadelphia Phillies - Dave Lengel (Wernersville, Pennsylvania)
St. Louis Cardinals - Richard Tucker (Pine Bluff, Arkansas)
Monteral Expos - Doug Kaufman (St. Louis Park, Minnesota)
Atlanta Braves - Ron D. Smith (Richmond, Virginia)
San Francisco Giants - Joe Maestro (Vallejo, California)
Los Angeles Dodgers - Forrest Wojdan (North Hollywood, California)
Houston Astros - John R. DeRoy (Bridgeton, Missouri)
Cincinnati Reds - Ken O'Bryan (Kettering, Ohio)
San Diego Padres - Terry Tomlinson (Tempe, Arizona)
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(Written December 23, 2003) To all my GUSSOMMO brothers (has there ever been a woman in this league?): First, (and really the only reason for this email), is to confirm the recent trade between Sin City and the
Mexicali Vatos (which, by the way Jeff, I see that you have corrected the spelling of Vatos on the web
site. Thank you so very much. I consider that my wonderful holiday gift.) Secondly, (and on another subject), as to why this trade was even made,all I can say is that....one must
understand that as one of the remaining fossil GM's (Jeff and I) who can proudly boast of drafting and
trading with the sense that I might win a League Championship some day... Actually, Jeff and I have
combined for a total of ONE championship... so obviously, it hasn't helped... and I should point out that
I am the one who won the championship, thank you, very little...it is also true, however, that since that Championship, I haven't won enough to buy a pot to piss in, in a total combined SIXTY SIX YEARS (I might have added wrong).....I was taken in by the Sin City GM, a persistent pit boss (and a good guy!)
Jason bugged me so much, that he finally got me off my lazy ass and got this deal done. This process actually permitted me to start thinking about this old fart game again. Can you believe that? I told Jason the other day how Jeff and I used to throw dice into a friggin box before this game became computerized. All you smart asses out there who know how to email this and attachthat. COMPUTERS ARE TAKING OVER THE WORLD. (I will admit, however, that these changes have improved the game somuch, I can't even begin to describe how much more enjoyable it is now a days. This instant communication
stuff is really cool. So, all in all, memories are fun.....but I do like the way things have turned out.
At least all this electronic crap allows me to ramble on, like an idiot, without then having a bill for
$22.15 toll charges reach my mail box twenty two days hence). I took the time the other night to read the bios on the website. It was quite amazed to see what an eclectic
(is that how you spell it?) bunch we have. Well, I sure know Jeff is eclectic, so is Larry, so is Mike. I went to one GUSSOMO convention in San Jose and couldn't get over how grown men could dash from one room to another throwing dice around a room and not coming out with no money or no chicks. Just didn't seem right. Yet here I am, on the outer fringes of all this insanity. What is it in this game that binds all of this together? By the way, you can laugh and snicker all you want about the Tigers and how they lost 119 games last year and how I drafted all Tigers the past few years, like a dumb ass (Randy Smith) and continue to try and find hope that Dorthy does indeed know where the hell Toto is going. YES, DAMMIT, I AM A DETROIT TIGER FAN AND I AM PROUD OF IT! GET IT! I BLEEEEEEEEEEED MICHIGAN, AND I DON'T EVEN LIKE SNOW! SO THERE!!!!!!!!!) Okay, all that shit is out of the way....whew!!!!!! Anyway....... I apologize to all of you out there who have to put up with my sorry track record of participation the past few years. I have subsisted in the league without fully involving myself because of a myriad of personal issues that arise as one passes down a long path. Having (hopefully) reached a straighter view ahead, I look forward to once again beginning my devious efforts to hoodwink the blind and foolish among you, as far as trading goes (look who's talking!). Stealing away valuable gems while at the same time tossing aside mear rocks is all that I live for. With that, I bid you all a wonderful holiday season and may Santa bring you a Championship so you can brag to the world that you are KING OF THE MOUNTAIN Take care, Jim Criscione (former League Memeber)
Contact
the Commissioner
Copyright © 1999-2000 G.U.S.S.O.M.O.
All Rights Reserved: Jeff Fleischman