Steve Finley
Encyclopedia
Steven Allen Finley is a former Major League Baseball
outfielder
.
, attended Paducah Tilghman High School
and Southern Illinois University
, where he earned a degree in physiology
and played for the baseball team from 1984–87.
in the 11th round of the draft, but did not sign, instead choosing to remain at SIU, where he was 2-time All-Missouri Valley Conference
performer, a third-team All-American in 1986, and named the team's Most Valuable Player in 1987. He is a member of the Saluki Baseball Hall of Fame.
He was a member of the 1986 Team USA squad that won a bronze medal
during international competition in the Netherlands.
In , he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles
in the 13th round of the draft, and did sign.
In 919 at bats in the minor leagues, Finley batted .309 and stole 68 bases.
On August 29, 2009, Finley was inducted into the Rochester Red Wings Hall of Fame.
and Curt Schilling
to the Houston Astros
for Glenn Davis
. That year he was third in the league in triples (10), sixth in hits (170), ninth in stolen bases (34), and tenth in sacrifice hit
s (10). His 13 outfield assists
tied Barry Bonds
and Paul O'Neill for third in the league.
In , he led the NL in games played (162), was second in triples (13), third in stolen bases (44; a career high) and sacrifice hits (10), and seventh in hits (177).
In , he led the league in triples (13). He had been slowed in spring training
by Bell's Palsy
, a viral infection of a nerve in his upper neck, resulting in numbness that prevented him from closing his left eye.
In , he was second in the league in sacrifice hits (13), and tenth in triples (5). He appeared in only 94 games due to an injury and strike-shortened season. He missed nearly a month after being hit by a pitch on June 8 in Montreal
, breaking the 3rd metacarpal bone in his right hand. In December 1994, he was traded by the Astros with Ken Caminiti
, Andujar Cedeno
, Roberto Petagine
, Brian Williams
, and minor leaguer Sean Fesh to the San Diego Padres
for Derek Bell, Doug Brocail
, Ricky Gutiérrez
, Pedro A. Martinez
, Phil Plantier
, and Craig Shipley
.
In , Finley batted a career-high .297 and was third in the league in runs (104) and triples (8), and fourth in stolen bases (36) and hits (167). Finley also won his first Gold Glove Award
. He was the only National League player to have 100 runs, 10 home runs, and 35 stolen bases. He stole a career-high 4 bases on August 12 vs. St. Louis
. He was in the delivery room on September 1 when son Reed was born, and then headed to the ballpark and played in the 8th and 9th innings of San Diego's 6–3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies
.
He was named MVP
in the All-Stars Series between Japan and United States (Tokyo, 1996
). Later in 1996, during Rickey Henderson
’s first season with San Diego, he boarded the team bus and was looking for a seat. Finley said, “You have tenure
, sit wherever you want.” Henderson looked at Finley and said, “Ten years? Rickey’s been playing at least 16, 17 years.” In , Finley was second in the NL in runs (126; a career high) and doubles (45), third in extra base hit
s (84), fourth in triples (9), and sixth in hits (195). Finley won his second Gold Glove Award and came in tenth in the MVP voting. He established Padres' records in runs, doubles, extra-base hits, and total bases.
In , he hit three home runs in a game twice in the same season (May 19 and June 23). Finley was voted to the All-Star team, and finished eighth in the league in runs (101).
In December , he signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks
. He hit his first game-ending
grand slam
(April 10, 1998. In , he hit three home runs and drove in 6 runs in a game on September 8, 1999. That season he had 34 home runs and a career-high 103 RBI, and was seventh in the league in extra base hits (76). Finley also won his third Gold Glove Award.
In , he had 35 home runs and a career-high .544 slugging percentage, and was ninth in the league in sacrifice flies (9). He was also voted to the All Star team. Finley also had 10 outfield assists and won his fourth Gold Glove Award. He was named the team co-Player-of-the-Year with Luis Gonzalez by the Arizona chapter of the BBWAA.
In , Finley had a disappointing regular season but had a stellar post season, leading the Diamondbacks with a .421 batting average in the National League Division Series
and 5 RBI in the National League Championship Series
as Arizona went on to win its first World Series
. On August 30 of that year, Finley became the Diamondback's first position player to serve as a relief pitcher, during a 13-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants
. http://espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=210830129
In , Finley led the league in triples (10), becoming the oldest player in Major League history to lead his league in triples.
In July , he was traded by the Diamondbacks with Brent Mayne
to the Los Angeles Dodgers
for Koyie Hill
, Reggie Abercrombie
, and Bill Murphy (minors).
He hit his second career game-ending grand slam October 2, 2004
. In 2004, he was eighth in at bats (628) and plate appearances (706), and was ninth in home runs (36; the third highest total ever for a 39-year-old in the Majors, behind Barry Bonds
and Hank Aaron). Finley also won his fifth Gold Glove Award. He also tied Pete Rose
's record of playing in 162 games at the age of 39.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/leaders_39_bat.shtml He hit a game-winning, walk-off grand slam
to cap a seven-run ninth inning on October 2 against San Francisco that clinched National League Western Division championship for the Dodgers.
In December 2004, Finley signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
. In , he missed 18 games due to strained right shoulder, his first DL stint since 1997. In December 2005 he was traded by the Angels to the San Francisco Giants
for Edgardo Alfonzo
.
In 2006
, at the age of 41, Finley became the oldest player ever to play more than 100 games in center field.
On November 1, , the Giants declined their option on Finley for the 2007 season, which made him a free agent. On February 24, 2007, Finley signed a minor-league contract with the Colorado Rockies
. After an impressive spring, Finley made their Opening Day roster. On June 5, 2007 the Rockies designated Finley for assignment, giving the Rockies 10 days to trade, release, or outright Finley to the minor leagues. Finley had batted .181 (17-for-94) with one home run and two RBIs in 43 games for Colorado.http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070605&content_id=2006680&vkey=pr_col&fext=.jsp&c_id=col He was released on June 17, 2007. At the time of his release, of all active players, he was 1st in triples (124), 3rd in games (2,583) and at-bats (9,397), 4th in hits (2,548), 7th in runs (1,443), 8th in total bases (4,157), and 9th in doubles (449) and stolen bases (320). He also had the 4th-most center field appearances in major league history. He was also the sixth-oldest player in the NL.
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
.
Early life
Finley, who grew up in Paducah, KentuckyPaducah, Kentucky
Paducah is the largest city in Kentucky's Jackson Purchase Region and the county seat of McCracken County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Tennessee River and the Ohio River, halfway between the metropolitan areas of St. Louis, Missouri, to the west and Nashville,...
, attended Paducah Tilghman High School
Paducah Tilghman High School
Paducah Tilghman High School is a public secondary school in Paducah, Kentucky, and is the only high school of the Paducah Independent School District....
and Southern Illinois University
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public research university located in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1869, SIUC is the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system...
, where he earned a degree in physiology
Physiology
Physiology is the science of the function of living systems. This includes how organisms, organ systems, organs, cells, and bio-molecules carry out the chemical or physical functions that exist in a living system. The highest honor awarded in physiology is the Nobel Prize in Physiology or...
and played for the baseball team from 1984–87.
College, Team USA, and minor leagues
In , Finley was drafted by the Atlanta BravesAtlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
in the 11th round of the draft, but did not sign, instead choosing to remain at SIU, where he was 2-time All-Missouri Valley Conference
Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference is a college athletic conference whose members are located in the midwestern United States...
performer, a third-team All-American in 1986, and named the team's Most Valuable Player in 1987. He is a member of the Saluki Baseball Hall of Fame.
He was a member of the 1986 Team USA squad that won a bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
during international competition in the Netherlands.
In , he was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
in the 13th round of the draft, and did sign.
In 919 at bats in the minor leagues, Finley batted .309 and stole 68 bases.
On August 29, 2009, Finley was inducted into the Rochester Red Wings Hall of Fame.
Major leagues
In January , he was traded by the Orioles with Pete HarnischPete Harnisch
Peter Thomas Harnisch is a former Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher.-Baltimore Orioles:Harnisch studied accounting, and was a star pitcher at Fordham University, compiling a 21-3 college record, 2.29 earned run average and 213 strikeouts in 204 innings pitched...
and Curt Schilling
Curt Schilling
Curtis Montague "Curt" Schilling is a former American Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He helped lead the Philadelphia Phillies to the World Series in and won World Series championships in with the Arizona Diamondbacks and in and with the Boston Red Sox. Schilling retired with a...
to the Houston Astros
Houston Astros
The Houston Astros are a Major League Baseball team located in Houston, Texas. They are a member of the National League Central division. The Astros are expected to join the American League West division in 2013. Since , they have played their home games at Minute Maid Park, known as Enron Field...
for Glenn Davis
Glenn Davis (baseball)
Glenn Earl Davis is a former Major League Baseball first baseman. While a member of the Houston Astros in the late 1980s, he finished three times in the top ten in National League MVP balloting . He batted and threw right-handed....
. That year he was third in the league in triples (10), sixth in hits (170), ninth in stolen bases (34), and tenth in sacrifice hit
Sacrifice hit
In baseball, a sacrifice bunt is a batter's act of deliberately bunting the ball in a manner that allows a runner on base to advance to another base. The batter is almost always sacrificed but sometimes reaches base due to an error or fielder's choice...
s (10). His 13 outfield assists
Assist (baseball)
In baseball, an assist is a defensive statistic, baseball being one of the few sports in which the defensive team controls the ball. An assist is awarded to every defensive player who fields or touches the ball prior to the recording of a putout, even if the contact was unintentional...
tied Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
and Paul O'Neill for third in the league.
In , he led the NL in games played (162), was second in triples (13), third in stolen bases (44; a career high) and sacrifice hits (10), and seventh in hits (177).
In , he led the league in triples (13). He had been slowed in spring training
Spring training
In Major League Baseball, spring training is a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for roster and position spots, and gives existing team players practice time prior to competitive play...
by Bell's Palsy
Bell's palsy
Bell's palsy is a form of facial paralysis resulting from a dysfunction of the cranial nerve VII that results in the inability to control facial muscles on the affected side. Several conditions can cause facial paralysis, e.g., brain tumor, stroke, and Lyme disease. However, if no specific cause...
, a viral infection of a nerve in his upper neck, resulting in numbness that prevented him from closing his left eye.
In , he was second in the league in sacrifice hits (13), and tenth in triples (5). He appeared in only 94 games due to an injury and strike-shortened season. He missed nearly a month after being hit by a pitch on June 8 in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, breaking the 3rd metacarpal bone in his right hand. In December 1994, he was traded by the Astros with Ken Caminiti
Ken Caminiti
Kenneth Gene Caminiti was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball and the 1996 National League Most Valuable Player. He was born in Hanford, California, and attended San Jose State University...
, Andujar Cedeno
Andújar Cedeño
Andújar Cedeño Donastorg was a Major League Baseball shortstop from to . Born in La Romana, Dominican Republic, he played for the Houston Astros from 1990 to , the San Diego Padres in , and in 1996 played for the Padres, Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros again.He hit for the cycle in and was a...
, Roberto Petagine
Roberto Petagine
Roberto Antonio Petagine is a left-handed first baseman for the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Nippon Professional Baseball. His Major League Baseball career includes brief stints with the Houston Astros , San Diego Padres , New York Mets , Cincinnati Reds , Boston Red Sox , and Seattle Mariners , but...
, Brian Williams
Brian Williams (baseball)
Brian O'Neal Williams is a former Major League Baseball player. A pitcher, Williams played for the Houston Astros , San Diego Padres , Detroit Tigers , Baltimore Orioles , Fukuoka Daiei Hawks , and Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians .Williams was chosen in the 1st round by the...
, and minor leaguer Sean Fesh to the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
for Derek Bell, Doug Brocail
Doug Brocail
Douglas Keith Brocail is a former American Major League Baseball pitcher. He is currently the interim pitching coach for the Houston Astros.-High school years:...
, Ricky Gutiérrez
Ricky Gutiérrez
Ricardo "Ricky" Gutiérrez a Cuban-American is a former shortstop in Major League Baseball who played from through for the San Diego Padres , Houston Astros , Chicago Cubs , Cleveland Indians , New York Mets and Boston Red Sox . He batted and threw right-handed...
, Pedro A. Martinez
Pedro A. Martínez
Pedro Martínez Aquino , commonly but inaccurately referred to as Pedro A. Martínez , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher...
, Phil Plantier
Phil Plantier
Phillip Alan Plantier is a former Major League Baseball player who played in the major leagues primarily as an outfielder from -. Plantier is most often remembered for his rookie season performance....
, and Craig Shipley
Craig Shipley
Craig Barry Shipley is an Australian-born executive in Major League Baseball. A former infielder for the Los Angeles Dodgers , New York Mets , San Diego Padres , Houston Astros and Anaheim Angels , he played collegiately at the University of Alabama.He helped the Padres win the 1996...
.
In , Finley batted a career-high .297 and was third in the league in runs (104) and triples (8), and fourth in stolen bases (36) and hits (167). Finley also won his first Gold Glove Award
Gold Glove Award
The Rawlings Gold Glove Award, usually referred to as the Gold Glove, is the award given annually to the Major League Baseball players judged to have exhibited superior individual fielding performances at each fielding position in both the National League and the American League , as voted by the...
. He was the only National League player to have 100 runs, 10 home runs, and 35 stolen bases. He stole a career-high 4 bases on August 12 vs. St. Louis
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. He was in the delivery room on September 1 when son Reed was born, and then headed to the ballpark and played in the 8th and 9th innings of San Diego's 6–3 win over the Philadelphia Phillies
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
.
He was named MVP
Most Valuable Player
In sports, a Most Valuable Player award is an honor typically bestowed upon the best performing player or players on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a particular contest or series of contests...
in the All-Stars Series between Japan and United States (Tokyo, 1996
1996 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: New York Yankees over Atlanta Braves ; John Wetteland, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: Bernie Williams**American League Division Series*National League Championship Series MVP: Javy López...
). Later in 1996, during Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henderson
Rickey Henley Henderson is a former Major League Baseball left fielder who played for nine teams from 1979 to 2003, including four stints with his original team, the Oakland Athletics. Nicknamed The Man of Steal, he is widely regarded as the sport's greatest leadoff hitter and baserunner...
’s first season with San Diego, he boarded the team bus and was looking for a seat. Finley said, “You have tenure
Tenure
Tenure commonly refers to life tenure in a job and specifically to a senior academic's contractual right not to have his or her position terminated without just cause.-19th century:...
, sit wherever you want.” Henderson looked at Finley and said, “Ten years? Rickey’s been playing at least 16, 17 years.” In , Finley was second in the NL in runs (126; a career high) and doubles (45), third in extra base hit
Extra base hit
In baseball, an extra base hit , also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire another base runner...
s (84), fourth in triples (9), and sixth in hits (195). Finley won his second Gold Glove Award and came in tenth in the MVP voting. He established Padres' records in runs, doubles, extra-base hits, and total bases.
In , he hit three home runs in a game twice in the same season (May 19 and June 23). Finley was voted to the All-Star team, and finished eighth in the league in runs (101).
In December , he signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks
Arizona Diamondbacks
The Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
. He hit his first game-ending
Walk-off home run
In baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...
grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
(April 10, 1998. In , he hit three home runs and drove in 6 runs in a game on September 8, 1999. That season he had 34 home runs and a career-high 103 RBI, and was seventh in the league in extra base hits (76). Finley also won his third Gold Glove Award.
In , he had 35 home runs and a career-high .544 slugging percentage, and was ninth in the league in sacrifice flies (9). He was also voted to the All Star team. Finley also had 10 outfield assists and won his fourth Gold Glove Award. He was named the team co-Player-of-the-Year with Luis Gonzalez by the Arizona chapter of the BBWAA.
In , Finley had a disappointing regular season but had a stellar post season, leading the Diamondbacks with a .421 batting average in the National League Division Series
National League Division Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Division Series determine which two teams from the National League will advance to the National League Championship Series...
and 5 RBI in the National League Championship Series
National League Championship Series
In Major League Baseball, the National League Championship Series is a round in the postseason that determines who wins the National League pennant and advances to Major League Baseball's championship, the World Series, facing the winner of the American League Championship Series. The reigning...
as Arizona went on to win its first World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
. On August 30 of that year, Finley became the Diamondback's first position player to serve as a relief pitcher, during a 13-5 loss to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. http://espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=210830129
In , Finley led the league in triples (10), becoming the oldest player in Major League history to lead his league in triples.
In July , he was traded by the Diamondbacks with Brent Mayne
Brent Mayne
Brent Danem Mayne is a former Major League Baseball catcher who has played with the Kansas City Royals , New York Mets , Oakland Athletics , San Francisco Giants , Colorado Rockies , Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers...
to the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
for Koyie Hill
Koyie Hill
Koyie Dolan Hill is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Chicago Cubs.-Baseball career:While attending Wichita State University, Hill compiled a .355 batting average and 186 RBI primarily as a third baseman....
, Reggie Abercrombie
Reggie Abercrombie
Reginald Damascus Abercrombie is a former Major League Baseball outfielder now playing for the Sioux Falls Fighting Pheasants of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.-Professional career:...
, and Bill Murphy (minors).
He hit his second career game-ending grand slam October 2, 2004
2004 in baseball
-Headline events of the year:*The Boston Red Sox win their first World Series since , ending the Curse of the Bambino.*With 262 hits, Ichiro Suzuki of the Mariners breaks George Sisler's record of 257. Suzuki also sets the record for most singles in a season, with 225.*2004 also marked the final...
. In 2004, he was eighth in at bats (628) and plate appearances (706), and was ninth in home runs (36; the third highest total ever for a 39-year-old in the Majors, behind Barry Bonds
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. Bonds played from 1986 to 2007, for the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Francisco Giants. He is the son of former major league All-Star Bobby Bonds...
and Hank Aaron). Finley also won his fifth Gold Glove Award. He also tied Pete Rose
Pete Rose
Peter Edward Rose , nicknamed "Charlie Hustle", is a former Major League Baseball player and manager. Rose played from 1963 to 1986, and managed from 1984 to 1989....
's record of playing in 162 games at the age of 39.http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/leaders_39_bat.shtml He hit a game-winning, walk-off grand slam
Grand slam (baseball)
In the sport of baseball, a grand slam is a home run hit with all three bases occupied by baserunners , thereby scoring four runs—the most possible in one play. According to The Dickson Baseball Dictionary, the term originated in the card game of contract bridge, in which a grand slam involves...
to cap a seven-run ninth inning on October 2 against San Francisco that clinched National League Western Division championship for the Dodgers.
In December 2004, Finley signed as a free agent with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...
. In , he missed 18 games due to strained right shoulder, his first DL stint since 1997. In December 2005 he was traded by the Angels to the San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
for Edgardo Alfonzo
Edgardo Alfonzo
Edgardo Antonio Alfonzo a.k.a. "Fonzie" is a former Major League Baseball infielder who most recently played for the Yomiuri Giants. He bats and throws right-handed, and is tall and weighs...
.
In 2006
2006 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:*The 2006 World Baseball Classic final 4 teams are Japan, Cuba, Korea and the Dominican Republic, with the United States at 3–3 failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Under the leadership of manager Sadaharu Oh and veterans Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Japan ...
, at the age of 41, Finley became the oldest player ever to play more than 100 games in center field.
On November 1, , the Giants declined their option on Finley for the 2007 season, which made him a free agent. On February 24, 2007, Finley signed a minor-league contract with the Colorado Rockies
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993 and are in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains...
. After an impressive spring, Finley made their Opening Day roster. On June 5, 2007 the Rockies designated Finley for assignment, giving the Rockies 10 days to trade, release, or outright Finley to the minor leagues. Finley had batted .181 (17-for-94) with one home run and two RBIs in 43 games for Colorado.http://colorado.rockies.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20070605&content_id=2006680&vkey=pr_col&fext=.jsp&c_id=col He was released on June 17, 2007. At the time of his release, of all active players, he was 1st in triples (124), 3rd in games (2,583) and at-bats (9,397), 4th in hits (2,548), 7th in runs (1,443), 8th in total bases (4,157), and 9th in doubles (449) and stolen bases (320). He also had the 4th-most center field appearances in major league history. He was also the sixth-oldest player in the NL.
See also
- List of NL Gold Glove Winners at Outfield
- List of major league players with 2,000 hits
- List of top 300 Major League Baseball home run hitters
- 2001 World Series2001 World Series-Game 1:Saturday, October 27, 2001 at Bank One Ballpark in Phoenix, ArizonaArizona showed no fear and chased Yankees starter Mike Mussina after just three innings. The Yankees gave up five unearned runs and the Diamondbacks rode Curt Schilling's seven strong innings to a 9–1 rout...
- List of Major League Baseball players with 400 doubles
- List of Major League Baseball players with 100 triples
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 runs
- List of Major League Baseball players with 1000 RBI
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career stolen bases
- List of Major League Baseball triples champions
External links
- Baseball Almanac – photos and miscellaneous
- BaseballLibrary – biography and career highlights