[Charlie Finley interview rough cut] – [1986 Old Timers’ Game]

This tape features interview segments with former Oakland A's owner Charlie Finley. In the interview, Finley talks about his time spent in Oakland and some of the trials and tribulations that came with the ownership. This tape also features clips from the 1969 Chicago Cubs' Old Timers' Game against the '69 New York Mets in 1986. The game is held at the Cubs' spring training facility in Phoenix, Arizona. 

00:00Copy video clip URL This tape begins with color bars and tone, then black.

01:45Copy video clip URL Cut to a shot of some footage from around the residence of former Oakland A’s owner Charlie Finley. In the interview, Finley talks about his time spent in Oakland, specifically why he got into baseball, the frugality of his ownership, and the parallels between his work in the insurance business and baseball. He also talks about some of his dealings with the players and his dislike for then-MLB Commissioner Bowie Kuhn. “If there was ever a commissioner in baseball that was an idiot, Bowie Kuhn fit the bill one hundred percent. Not only, in my opinion, was he an idiot–you know sometimes you call him the ‘village idiot’–Bowie Kuhn was the nation’s idiot in my book.” He also states that he has no desire to be an MLB owner today. The end of the interview gets cut off.

07:57Copy video clip URL Cut to an intro segment of the Old Timers’ Game between the ’69 Chicago Cubs and the ’69 New York Mets. We are first greeted by former Cubs Manager Leo Durocher expressing his excitement for being a part of the game today. Each player from the ’69 Cubs team introduces himself and explains what he has been up to since leaving baseball. Some of the players included are: Fergie Jenkins, Glenn Beckert, Billy Williams, Jim Hickman, Ernie Banks, Don Kessinger, Bill Hands, Phil Regan, and Willie Smith. An assortment of clips from the game are included on the tape.

10:09Copy video clip URL Ernie Banks is at bat and hits a double. Banks is ecstatic over the fact that he can still hit the ball. “I can hit! Thank you. I can hit! That ball was hit! I can hit! I can hit! I still got it!”

11:15Copy video clip URL At first base, Banks jokes with a NY Mets player before catching a grounder to end an inning.

11:48Copy video clip URL Fade in to a shot of Leo Durocher as he talks about what might have went wrong with the Cubs team in 1969. This cuts into a shot of the Cubs players on the bench during the game. Banks encourages his teammates that they’ll come back to win the game.

12:11Copy video clip URL Cut to black screen.

12:46Copy video clip URL Cut to a segment featuring clips from both the Old Timers’ Game and plays from the 1969 Cubs season.

13:52Copy video clip URL Tape ends.