In the collection is this personal check signed by Charles O. Finley. For more on Finley here is an excerpt from his SABR biography, “Nearly everyone, including fellow owners, players, the fans of his teams, the media, and the baseball commissioner, disliked or even despised him. When his team lost, he blamed everyone but himself. When they won, he was apt to call the radio booth during the game if his name was not mentioned often enough. He was a self-made millionaire who, in the words of sportswriter Jim Murray, “worshipped his creator.”

In the collection is the first of two handwritten letter in which Dick Williams opines about Athletics owner Charlie Finley. Williams writes, “I was the first manager he had to go longer than one year with him — I managed three years and won division championships all three years plus two World Series Championships. Three years was long enough!”.

Dick Williams piloted the Oakland A’s for only three years but won the World Series twice. Though three seasons might seem like a short stint, working for Athletics owner Charlie Finley made the time almost unbearable. After guiding the A’s to the title in 1973, Williams and Oakland became baseball’s first repeat champs since the 1961-1962 Yankees. Despite this, Williams resigned at the end of the season.

In this letter Dick Williams writes about the Hall of Fame chances for himself and for Charlie Finley. “Mr. Finley is one of fifteen baseball people to be considered for the Hall of Fame this year at the managerial and executive level. I am also one who is considered. The vote was due by the 26th of Jan. and will be announced Feb. 27. Other than that I shouldn’t say anything else.” Williams seems more guarded in this second letter.

Back in the 1970s Major League players actually had roommates on the road. In the collection is a supplemental contract for Jesus Alou to have a room all to himself on the road for the 1974 season. Of course the money for the room is to come out of Alou’s paycheck. The document is signed by Alou, Finley, and American League president Lee MacPhail.