ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times

DATE: Tuesday, February 20, 1996             TAG: 9602200081
SECTION: SPORTS                   PAGE: B1   EDITION: METRO 
DATELINE: CHICAGO 
                                             TYPE: NEWS OBIT 
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS

FORMER A'S OWNER FINLEY DIES AT 77

THE MAN WHO PIONEERED the designated hitter rule and other changes dies of heart disease.

Charlie O. Finley, one of baseball's most outrageous owners and innovators, died Monday. He was 77.

Finley, who owned the Oakland Athletics when they won they won three consecutive World Series from 1972-74, died of heart and vascular disease.

Finley's sons, Martin and David, along with their wives, were at his side when he died.

After purchasing the A's in 1960 when they played in Kansas City, Mo., Finley immediately became known for his flamboyance.

He named a mule after himself, calling it Charlie O., and made it the team mascot.

Later, he tried to persuade the establishment to use orange-colored baseballs, which were tried briefly in exhibition games, and attempted to speed up games by reducing walks to three balls.

While those innovations never were adopted, two of his ideas have become standards of the game - the designated hitter and night games in the World Series.

LENGTH: Short :   36 lines
ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO:   headshot of Finley   color