Yesterday I had a chance to catch the tail end of a HBO documentary I've seen before about the A's and Raiders back in the 70s which is a little before my time. As a kid I remember the Raiders and their rep as "bad asses" and etc. Remember the song "We wear the silver, we wear the black.....". Even knew about Mr. Jumpsuit, Al Davis. They talked extensively about Charles O. Finley and pretty much painted him as a old, evil, cheap miserable S.O.B. who possibly ruined a dynasty and even made MC Hammer (when he was a kid) an Exec. VP??? Was this guy really that bad? Were the A's really that good? Also I thought Finley was affilated with the Angels and had Finley Stadium named after him. Did they make him sell the A's and he got back in with the Angels?
To answer a few of your questions, yes they were that good. I dont remember all their everyday players, but heres a list for you.
Reggie Jackson
Joe Rudi
Sal Bando
Gene Tenace
Bert Campaneris
Ray Fosse
Vida Blue - 20 wins
Catfish Hunter -21 wins
Ken Holtzman - 21 wins
Rollie Fingers - 49 saves
Charles Finley was a bit of a wacko and started selling his players off which was stopped by Bowie Kuhn. Its a shame, they had such a great team.
Reggie Jackson
Joe Rudi
Sal Bando
Gene Tenace
Bert Campaneris
Ray Fosse
Vida Blue - 20 wins
Catfish Hunter -21 wins
Ken Holtzman - 21 wins
Rollie Fingers - 49 saves
Charles Finley was a bit of a wacko and started selling his players off which was stopped by Bowie Kuhn. Its a shame, they had such a great team.
A shame then especially considering some players said they would've stayed with the team after winning the WS for less money than what other teams were offering. The guy seemed like a miser and senile to me but I wanted to get opinion outside of the documentary.
The Reds tried to purchase Vida Blue, that was blocked by Bowie Kuhn...the A's attendance (as it has always been) was not good.
Finley wasn't all bad, he was an innovator, he encouraged his players to be unique, paying them to sport facial hair, he also tried to introduce 'orange baseballs' for night games, I believe they experimented with this in either minor leagues or spring games...I even recall having a few of those orange baseballs lol.
He also had a bitter feud with Reggie, before Jackson left for New York.
Finley wasn't all bad, he was an innovator, he encouraged his players to be unique, paying them to sport facial hair, he also tried to introduce 'orange baseballs' for night games, I believe they experimented with this in either minor leagues or spring games...I even recall having a few of those orange baseballs lol.
He also had a bitter feud with Reggie, before Jackson left for New York.
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Journeyman said:
Yeah I remember that part of the documentary where Reggie had a great season and Finley commended him for having one then a while later they go into salary arbs and Finley turns face and tried to make it look like Reggie production fell off and he could've done better. They said Reggie was so mad he had this look on his face that he wanted to reach across the table and choke Finley. They kept pounding the fact that he was a meddler and he didn't want to pay any decent money to players.
Journeyman said:
I know in college softball, they use a colored ball, I believe it's yellow. Don't know if that's from Charley O. Also The A's, when in Kansas City, were the first team to wear colorful uniforms. Unlike today's owners, Finley cultivated an outstanding farm system (many played in Des Moines for the Iowa Oaks) and didn't just pay huge amounts for player's services.
But back then, free agency wasn't established.
I live about 30 miles from his estate. The players on the A's WS teams hated each other, but hated Finley more. He was like the Marlins franchise is now. Oakland never drew much, even in the great seasons. He was a main cog in free agency for the players. He was never going to pay big money for his players. After losing Catfish Hunter to free agency as we know it now, he tried to sell Blue to the Reds then the Yankees, and Rudi and Fingers to Boston.
The moment I remember him for the most was putting Mike Andrews on waivers after costing Oakland a WS game. The players and Dick Williams almost revolted, and Bowie Kuhn reinstated him.
The moment I remember him for the most was putting Mike Andrews on waivers after costing Oakland a WS game. The players and Dick Williams almost revolted, and Bowie Kuhn reinstated him.
