KIRK RUETER

BASEBALL

Position: Pitcher
Born: December 1, 1970; Hoyleton, Illinois
Played for: Montreal Expos (1993-1996), San Francisco Giants (1996-2005)

For nine of his 13 MB seasons, Kirk Rueter proved to be one of the San Francisco Giants most reliable starting pitchers.In fact, when the Giants went to the World Series in 2002, Rueter posted perhaps the finest season statistically, with a 14-8 record and a 3.43 ERA. By the time he retired in 2006, he was the most successful left- handed pitcher in San Francisco Giants history, with 105 of his 130 career. wins in a Giants uniform.

Nicknamed “Woody” because of his resemblance to the cowboy character in the animated movie “Toy Story,” Rueter graduated from Nashville (Illinois) High School, Then went on to pitch at Murray State University. Drafted by Montreal in 1991, Rueter broke into the majors in 1993 and posted an 8-0 record in 14 games and was named National League Rookie Pitcher of Year by The Sporting News.

But perhaps his biggest break came in 1996, when he was traded by the Expos with Tim Scott to the Giants for Mark Leiter. For the next nine seasons, the lanky lefty proved to be one of the Giants’ – and baseball’s – most reliable starters. Rueter went on to use his pin-point control and a great sinker into seven straight double-digit-win seasons (1997-2003) for San Francisco.

But as well as Rueter is known for his baseball heroics, so, too, is he known for his “shed,” a museum of sorts just south of Nashville that houses his sports memorabilia. His collection includes celebrity autographed baseballs, autographed footballs and countless framed sports jerseys. It also features an indoor theater specifically for sports viewing, with leather recliners.