Finley Ball: How Two Baseball Outsiders Turned the Oakland A's into a Dynasty and Changed the Game Forever

by Nancy Finley Narrated by Pam Ward

Overview

When Charlie Finley bought the A's in 1960, he was an outsider to the game-an insurance businessman with a larger-than-life personality. He brought his cousin Carl on as his right-hand man, moved the team from Kansas City to Oakland, and pioneered a new way to put together a winning team. With legendary players like Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, and Vida Blue, the Finleys' Oakland A's won three straight World Series and riveted the nation.

Now Carl Finley's daughter Nancy reveals the whole story behind her family's winning legacy-how her father and uncle developed their scouting strategy, why they employed odd gimmicks like orange baseballs and “mustache bonuses,” and how the success of the '70s Oakland A's changed the game of baseball.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"From the Charlie Finley dynasty years, to Billy Martin's Billy Ball years, Nancy Finley reveals the inner workings of one of baseball's greatest franchises and offers insights into the creative genius of one of its most colorful owners."

—Brian Kingman, Pitcher, Oakland A's, 1978–1982

"Finley almost single–handedly saved baseball in the early 1970s with his showmanship and charisma, and, ultimately, his love and understanding of the game. And he built perhaps the best baseball team ever assembled and changed the game for the better."

—Jay Darby, lawyer and sportswriter

"If there was a Major League Baseball Hall of Fame for multitasking, the first member would be Carl Finley of the Oakland A's. When I arrived on the scene in 1980, Carl was a one-man front office. Tickets, stadium operations, broadcasting, public relations. You name it, he did it—with quality and class."

—Andy Dolich, VP of Marketing, Oakland A's, 1981–1994

"In June 1960, Chicago insurance salesman Charles Finley was an unlikely candidate to buy the St. Louis Athletics' baseball club. When he shockingly outbid legendary sportswriter and nemesis Ernie Mehl, nobody imagined that he would put together a good team—let alone a baseball dynasty. Finley wasn’t afraid to make moves and his determination paid off. After making aggressive deals and bringing in his cousin Carl as his adviser, the Athletics won three consecutive World Series, between 1972 and 1974. Charles Finley was also the ultimate showman, being the first to introduce a petting zoo in his ballpark and indulge in state-of-the-art electronics, eventually moving the team to Oakland, CA. Author Finley (Charles's niece) gives the reader a behind-the-scenes look at the extraordinary age of baseball that included legends such as Rollie Fingers, Vida Blue, Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, and more. Finley’s impact on the sport is still legendary to this day. ­VERDICT This book will appeal to Oakland A's fans and anyone interested in baseball of the 1960s and 1970s.—Gus Palas, Ela Area P.L., Lake Zurich, IL."

—Howard J. Katz, Library Journal / School Library Journal

Library Journal

04/15/2016
In June 1960, Chicago insurance salesman Charles Finley was an unlikely candidate to buy the St. Louis Athletics' baseball club. When he shockingly outbid legendary sportswriter and nemesis Ernie Mehl, nobody imagined that he would put together a good team—let alone a baseball dynasty. Finley wasn't afraid to make moves and his determination paid off. After making aggressive deals and bringing in his cousin Carl as his advisor, the Athletics won three consecutive World Series, between 1972 and 1974. Charles Finley was also the ultimate showman, being the first to introduce a petting zoo in his ballpark and indulge in state-of-the-art electronics, eventually moving the team to Oakland, CA. Author Finley (Charles's niece) gives the reader a behind-the-scenes look at the extraordinary age of baseball that included legends such as Rollie Fingers, Vida Blue, Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, and more. Finley's impact on the sport is still legendary to this day. VERDICT This book will appeal to Oakland A's fans and anyone interested in baseball of the 1960s and 1970s.—Gus Palas, Ela Area P.L., Lake Zurich, IL

Product Details

BN ID:	2940169548495
Publisher:	Blackstone Audio, Inc.
Publication date:	03/28/2016
Edition description:	Unabridged
Sales rank:	829,258

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