born Feb. 22, 1918, Ensley, Ala., U.S.
died Feb. 19, 1996, Chicago, Ill.
U.S. baseball club owner.
Born on a farm in Alabama, Finley worked in a steel mill after his family moved to Gary, Ind. During a protracted illness Finley conceived of the insurance company that would make him a millionaire in two years. He became a wealthy executive and in 1960 acquired the Kansas City (later Oakland) Athletics. Under Finley they achieved three consecutive World Series victories (197274), even as he constantly stirred controversy among players, managers, civic leaders, and baseball officials with his promotional ideas. He sold the team in 1980.