Charles O. Finley

From Hoopedia

Charles Oscar Finley (February 22, 1918 - February 19, 1996), nicknamed Charlie O or Charley O, was an American businessman who is best remembered for his tenure as the flamboyant owner of the Oakland Athletics Major League Baseball team (tenure actually started when the team was still based in Kansas City).

Early Life

Finley was born in Ensley, Alabama, but was raised in Gary, Indiana, and later lived in LaPorte, a small town 60 miles east of Chicago. He played semi-pro baseball in several Indiana cities but had his career cut short in 1946 by a bout with tuberculosis that nearly killed him. After marrying the daughter of an insurance salesman, Finley then made his fortune in the insurance business, being among the first to write group medical insurance policies for those in the medical profession.

The Memphis Tams

Finley purchased the Oakland Seals of the National Hockey League in 1970, renaming the team the California Golden Seals. After finding no buyers for the team, it was eventually taken over by the league in 1974. In 1972, Finley purchased the Memphis Pros of the American Basketball Association, changing the team's name to the Memphis Tams, the name being an acronym for Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi. The Tams were taken over by the ABA in 1974 and renamed the Memphis Sounds. In both cases, the team's colors were changed by Finley to Kelly green and gold; furthermore, mimicking his attempt with the A's, he briefly compelled the Seals to wear white skates instead of the traditional black skates, a move deeply unpopular with both players and fans. Both teams were abysmal failures, both at the box office and on the ice or court, respectively.