Baseball Mogul 2008:Viva Las Vegas

[suave]

Episode 1:A Tale of Two Cities

The year was 1973, and Charlie Finley was sick of this shit.

It wasn't for lack of success, that's for sure. The A's were loaded. How loaded? Try World Series champs twice in a row loaded. The A's had it all. Whether it be 22 year old phenom Vida Blue, Cy Young winner Catfish Hunter, gritty locker room leader Sal Blando, star closer Rollie Fingers, or MVP Reggie Jackson, these guys were stacked. Yeah, they were pretty good. Fun, too. How about those infamous green and gold uniforms that prompted none other than Mickey Mantle to say "They should have come out of the dugout on tippy-toes, holding hands and singing"? Or teenage Stanley Burrell being hired as executive vice president? You'll hear about him later. Or maybe the outlandish personalities? The country-as-country gets Catfish Hunter, the Snidely Whiplash looking closer Rollie Fingers, the tough as nails Blando, and the MVP, the big enchilada, the straw that stirs the drink, Reggie Jackson. Calling Reggie cocky was like calling Darth Vader naughty. He was never at a loss for a good one liner, and he was the perfect star for this Oakland team. These guys weren't the Ruth Yankees, the Dizzy Dean Cardinals, or the Mantle Yankees. They were tough, crazy, cocky, but one thing's for sure. They were damn good. This team had a bright future ahead of them. They had a great core, great role players, and with good drafting, a dynasty wasn't so far out of sight. No team had ever won three in a row since Mantle's Yanks, and these Athletics were on the cusp of doing just that. 

But still, Charlie Finley wasn't what you'd call happy. To be fair, it's not like instability was a foreign thing to Charlie. A little history lesson: Charlie bought the Kansas City Athletics in 1960, and vowed to keep the team in KC. Fast forward two years later, and the A's would have moved to Dallas had the other owners not denied it at the last second. But you can't keep a good man down. By the end of the 1963 season, Charlie had a deal to move the team to Louisville. But again, the owners said no to Charlie O. But hey, Charlie kept trying. The Atlanta A's. No, scratch that, how about the San Diego A's? Maybe the Seattle A's could get the job done? Almost like clockwork, Finley got rejected each time. Finally, he got to Oakland, and even that was only because MLB had a Kansas City expansion team in the works. So, the Oakland Athletics were born. Success, due to the farm players coming up at the same time, followed almost immediately.

But, depending on your worldview, success doesn't always equal money. Finley barely scraped together a radio deal with a UC Berkley Radio station, made only 20,000 dollars his first year in KC, and were somehow the second most popular team in the Bay Area behind the San Francisco Giants due to Finley's poor handling of radio and TV contracts. This was 1973. The kids were going home, sitting on their shag carpeting, and watching some baseball. And that's not even counting weekends and people in their cars. If Bay Area residents couldn't experience the exploits of Jackson and Hunter on a regular basis, how were they supposed to develop a connection to the team? And that's not even mentioning Curt Flood shattering the reserve clause, making free agency come to life. And having to pay a whole roster of payday chasing stars in the poor economy of the early 70's? Charlie Finley wasn't too happy about that. It manifested itself as whispers during the Summer of '72, and with Finley's oncoming divorce, poor financial state, and scrutiny from the media, it got louder and louder. 

The A's are on the move again. 


Jordan Liston made 49 million dollars at 26. Which really pissed him off, because it was 3 shy of a million a week. 

Jordan Liston. The cliche "Prodigy" is thrown around a lot these days, but Liston was more than a cliche. Born in 1947, he graduated high school at age 13, and Harvard University at age 18. He then proceeded to make a killing on the stock market. Known for his New York accent (he was born and raised in Queens, after all), his babyfaced demeanor, and his womanizing, partying lifestyle. He was cocky, but he backed it up. He was an American success story. He was a boy wonder. He was 27 years old, a multimillionare, and didn't have a care in the world. He wore fine suits, talked smack like it was going out out of style, and was respected despite his youth by anyone who was anyone. And he may just have grown up at the perfect time for this story. Liston came of age during the 50s and early 60s. The Baby Boom was in full swing, and baseball was America's pastime. Liston may have been a small, nerdy kid, who was never all that great a player, but he loved baseball. He'd watch Mantle, and Mays, and Maris, and Snyder, and dream of being like them. 

It should bear mentioning that Jordan's adopted home, so to speak, was Las Vegas. For a 27 year old multimillionare, it was perfect. Celebrities everywhere, casinos, palm trees, loose women, flashing lights, Jordan was the king, and Vegas was his kingdom. And he "ruled", so to speak, from his penthouse at Caesar's Palace. And this is where our story begins. 

Jordan Liston opened his eyes, and smiled. Sure, he had a pounding headache, there were hookers asleep in the bed, and the room was trashed, but he could live with that. It was a fun night, more than worth the trouble. He had a nice penthouse. Pretty large, a few rooms, decorated extravagantly, not a bad place for a man to call home.  Jordan put on a custom silk bathrobe, and opened the door. He picked up the newspaper. Jordan Liston was a busy man. He didn't particularly dislike anything in the news, he just didn't follow it avidly. Carter this, ABBA that, Oil Crisis this, cocaine that, it was irrelevant to him. Until one little headline grabbed his eye. 

CHARLIE FINLEY TO SELL A'S. RUMORS OF RELOCATION ENSUE

Jordan sat back in his chair, and laughed. It wasn't particularly funny, or even surprising. The A's move had been rumored for a while now, and it was a matter of when, not if, the team would be sold. But this seemed...odd. He had kicked around random ideas in his head before, but this seemed too perfect. Jordan picked up the phone, and dialed.

This is Jordan Liston. Tell Charlie O I want to meet with him.

TO BE CONTINUED...

[suave]

Episode 2 should be up sometime tomorrow or later today. Is anyone following this?

[suave]

Episode 2:A Summer Evening in a Small Town in Indiana

Jordan Liston felt out of place.

It wasn't like this was some kind of new sensation. This had been essentially his entire upbringing. From the time he was a Preschooler, he was put in accelerated classes. When most kids are entering Freshman year of high school and making new friends, he was getting ready to attend Harvard and study economics. When most kids are going to parties and enjoying being carefree, Jordan was listening to people tout him as a genius, a prodigy. But he got through that the way he'd get through anything. Charm. Jordan was, well, an excellent bullshitter. Baseball, hunting, cars, girls, whatever it may be, the man could sell gag reflex to a hooker. He had a knack to make you like him, and this was a skill he would likely use with Charlie Finley. But back to the story. Charlie Finley didn't live in Oakland. While his team was winning titles and struggling financially, Charlie was enjoying life in Laporte, Indiana. Which is quite a long way from Oakland. And Las Vegas, as Liston found out. In his pink and white Versace suit, he drew odd looks from the Northwestern Indiana crowd, but he wasn't here for them. He was here for Charlie O.

Liston walked into the house, and was immediately greeted by Finley.

Jordan Liston. The Wolf of Wall Street in the flesh. Goddamn, ain't you a sight?

I try my best, Mr. Finley.

Hey, y'know what? I've got a freezer full of cold beers, it's 86 on the thermostat, and I ain't getting any younger. What say we head out back and have a few?

I like it.

So, the men headed out back, and talked. Politics, beer, women, everything but the team, it seems. And then...

Look, let's get down to business.

Gladly.

You and I both know what this sale means. Times...times are changing, kiddo.

What do you mean by that?

You and I both know. The player salaries are going up, and we're gonna have to pay through the nose. All this media stuff...I just feel like the game's for young men, men like you. I love this team, I really do. I just feel...I just feel as if it wouldn't hurt to cash out and let them be steered by someone who's willing to deal with all this new stuff. I love the A's, and I love this game, but I'm just tired of running things on a day to day basis. I want to just sit back and watch my team win.

I understand. So, Mr. Finley, I have an offer, if you'd like to hear it.

Shoot.

10 million dollars.

10 million? We're the World Series Champions, young man.

13.5 million.

You're getting there.

16 million.

Well, the money's good-

16 million and you're immediately inducted as Senior President. You want to do something, anything, just give us a call and your will's done. You're set for life, you're living comfortably in a quiet town, and you've got anything you want a phone call away.

Finley laughs.

You know...I like you. You're like me when I was a young man. Ambitious, gritty...I love it. You'll go a long way, kid. I accept the deal.

Perfect! Mr. Finley-

Call me Charlie.

-Charlie, this may just be the beginning of a dynasty.

I love it! Now where do we start? Do we wanna relocate?

Yeah.

Hmm...there's a few places I had in mind. How about...St. Petersburg? Metropolitan Tampa isn't a bad market.

The St. Petersburg A's? Besides, the Florida fans don't exactly have a track record with being hugely dedicated.

Toronto?

...Charlie, no baseball player is gonna want to live in that weather. Besides, the whole different country thing might be a bit of a burden that we don't really want.

Denver?

...there's a thought.

Maybe we could move back to Kansas City. Or Philly. Hell, Charlotte doesn't have a team-

Las Vegas.

Charlie laughed, almost in surprise.

Las Vegas. Oh my god. 

Oh my god is right. Warm weather 365, no shortage of extracurricular entertainment, we'll be the only major pro team in the city. celebrities coming to every game, Viva Las Vegas blaring on the motherf***ing speakers as Reggie hits homer after homer, Rollie slams the door, and we're laughing with a middle finger up in one hand and a cold beer in the other. The Las Vegas Athletics. If you don't like us, learn to love us, because we're the best motherf***in' thing going.

YES! God, I love it. How is the stadium thing gonna work out though?

We'll get it built on the strip. Until then? There are a couple of stadiums we could play in while the new one gets built. I'll start asking around.

We'll have to get the commish to approve the deal.

I'll give him a call tomorrow night. For now? Let's grab a few more and talk plans.

I like it.


The two men went down into Charlie Finley's basement, and the plans for the Las Vegas A's were drawn up that very night. There was work to be done, and Charlie Finley and Jordan Liston were going to do it.

To be continued...

--------------------------------------

BTW, if anyone's reading this and likes/hates/has comments, any comments and opinions would be greatly appreciated. It's always nice to work hard on something and know that people derive enjoyment from it.

[Waffel113]

Well I'm paying attention now.

[bluemeii]

Las Vegas A's in 73?? Interesting...hope the money you get in that area will help you afford the big guys (Jackson, Fingers, Holtzman, Blue, etc.) when the time comes.

Or are you gonna bust it up like they did?

[suave]

Episode 3:An Evening with the Commish

The deal was, more or less, done.  

The Las Vegas A's were here. This was a generally accepted statement among the American public at the time. There were Las Vegas A's caps, shirts, and jerseys being sold (albeit bootleg ones), players like Reggie Jackson and Vida Blue had already publicly supported the move, and a stadium had already been found while plans were being made to make a new one on the strip. Mayor Oran Gragson was on board, fans across the nation were on board, and it looked like the start of a new, beautiful relationship in the valley. 

But along came Bowie Kuhn. 

A little background. Bowie Kuhn was born in Tacoma, Maryland, and graduated from Princeton in 1947 (for reference, this was the year Jordan Liston was born). He was 6'5, 240 pounds (as tall and slightly heavier than a wrestler named Alberto Del Rio who would be born a few years later), and, in his mid 40s, the youngest commissioner in baseball history. Notable events of his reign included trying (and failing) to stop free agency and keep the reserve clause intact, suspending Detroit's star pitcher Denny McLain for the entire 1970 season for carrying a gun, trying (and again, failing) to stop Jim Bouton's controversial Ball Four from being published, and being notably tough when it came to drug offenses. It should also be mentioned that he wasn't exactly a big fan of one Charlie O. Finley. In the 1973 World Series, an Oakland A named Mike Williams made two consecutive errors in the 12th inning of Oakland's Game 2 loss to the Mets. So, Finley did the logical thing. He forced Williams to sign a document claiming he was injured when he clearly wasn't. Kuhn wasn't too pleased with this, and overturned his decision. So, yeah, you could definitely say the two had some history. But, on an Autumn day in 1973, Jordan Liston could care less about history. His eyes were on the future. 

Jordan was always known for his gift of gab...

Mr. Kuhn, let's talk relocation. 

Jordan and Bowie were sitting down at Kuhn's desk in his office. 

Alright, Jordan. What have you got for me? 

Bowie, me and you, we're really not so different. Both northeast guys, both Ivy League grads, both the youngest in our respective fields-

Don't bullshit me, Liston. I've been through enough with this Free Agency crap and the deal with McLain. 

Fair enough, fair enough. I think we both know what I'm here to talk about. 

Bowie laughs.

The Las Vegas A's. Y'know, I've gotta hand it to ya, you've got some balls relocating the defending champions to the gambling capital of the world. 

And I know how you feel about gambling, Mr. Kuhn. 

I don't care if it's Mickey freaking Mantle, if I ever caught a player getting involved with a casino, I'd ban him for life. 

I see.

And your little attempt to move to Vegas? Explain how you play to keep these boys out of trouble in "Sin City".

Well, for most of the year, they'll be out on the road. I doubt there'll be too much partying in Montreal and Milwaukee. And for homestands? Potentially a curfew, or we could stop pretending like these guys aren't gonna be out all night. 

What do you mean by that?

It's a new age, Bowie. I know you've read Ball Four. Mickey Mantle sure as hell didn't stay in his room all night after games, that's for sure.

But do you think a 55 year old stockbroker is gonna take his kids to see a game when he knows everyone on the field's hungover? We need to think of the fans, Jordan. 

The papers are getting more and more nosy. The era where you could just strongarm someone into telling the story you wanted him to tell is coming to an end. These guys want headlines, and these headlines are everywhere. New York, Boston, Chicago, tell me a young, black millionare like Dick Allen isn't raising hell over there. A team in Las Vegas doesn't mean everyone starts partying, it means the people think everyone starts partying. And we know what's at stake. These guys are focused. 

Jordan, have you talked to the players about this? 

Actually, I have. They're pretty much all on board. 

On board with baseball, or on board with partying?

You seem to doubt our focus, Mr. Kuhn. 

And I have good reason to.

When you're a two time defending champion, your focus should not be doubted. 

I see your point, Mr. Liston. But talk to me about the stadium. 

Las Vegas Stadium, Mr. Kuhn. Built two years ago. State of the art, and we're negotiating for a new one on the strip. One of the biggest tourist attractions in the world, and A's baseball is gonna be right in the middle of it. 

What's the capacity of Las Vegas Stadium? 

We're looking at 40,000 by opening day 1974. 

40,000? It's a bit less than the old stadium you had. 

But it's a bit more than Fenway Park. And it doesn't have the sewage issues either. For a temporary stadium? Not bad. 

Not bad at all. How do you think this will work money wise? 

Money? We're the World Series champions. The people want to wear a winner. Caps, jerseys, we're gonna sell like hotcakes. Not to mention cable TV, an affluent city, and the ratings we'll get with our roster. We're in the money, Bowie. 

Money...about that. I don't know if I like your philosophy. 

Philosophy?

You think you can spend your way to success, and I'm not sure if I approve of that. 

Why?

The Curt Flood trial hammered this point home, and now with free agency it's getting to be somewhat blatant. Small market teams are screwed. If you're the Montreal Expos, and a player wants to go to New York, or Las Vegas, or Los Angeles, what's stopping him? The reserve clause? Not anymore. 

This is America, baby! Why not chase the money? 

Well, actually, the Expos are in Canada. And I can't have a league run by people like you and Steinbrenner. Which is why I'm holding you to a budget.

A budget? 

Yes. You can't just spend money like the million dollar man and make a mockery of this sport. But that being said, I approve of the move to Las Vegas. Just...look, have you heard of my Rip Van Winkle theory? 

No. Tell me. 

If a man fell asleep in 1910 and woke up opening day 1974, he should be able to understand the game perfectly. 

I doubt that.

How so? 

The DH, blacks, latinos, Astroturf, colorful jerseys, and everything else? Bowie, the game's already changed, and it's changing right now. 

Hm...

And we're at the front of the revolution. 

Jordan extends his hand, and Bowie shakes it.

I feel like I'm making a deal with the devil. 

You know, you just might be. 

To be continued...

[suave]

Episode 4:Play Ball!

Jordan Liston sat down in his desk, and mulled over paperwork. Remove the frame of reference, and that statement could refer to anyone. Jordan Liston the banker. Jordan Liston the HR guy. Jordan Liston the teacher. But this was Jordan Liston, the man who held the most power in baseball, save for the commissioner and maybe George Steinbrenner. Speaking of old George, a lot had been written about the two. One Sports Illustrated writer compared them to Gilded Age Robber Barons ala John Rockefeller, envisioning a future where the teams with great financial resources would control the league. Numerous former players expressed doubt that their game would ever be the same again. But change is good. Change gave us black players in baseball, the forward pass, the bikini, and countless other things. But surprisingly enough, change wasn't on Jordan Liston's mind in early April 1974. He wanted to keep the team mostly the same. Sure, he signed a 19 year old righty by the name of Rick Honeycutt, but he was a minor leaguer. This team had the pieces in place, and it could make a run.

Jordan Liston sat back in his chair and smiled. It was time to play ball.

APRIL 1974

Record:16-8, 1st in AL West.

Highlights:

• Reggie Jackson has 8 home runs along with a .318 batting average.
  
  
• Vida Blue is continuing to shine bright. With a 1.72 era (3rd in the majors), and 6 wins (tied for 1st), he's looking more and more like a franchise pitcher. Even better? He extended his contract through 1977.
• Sal Bando leads the team with a .329 batting average.
• Speed kills for the A's. Leadoff man Billy North leads the majors with 10 steals, and Bert Campenaris isn't far behind with 7. 

• In the Minors, Pat Bourque leads AAA with 5 homers, and Jesus Alou is 3rd in batting average at .303.

Jordan Liston was driving down the strip in his brand new Cadillac, and he felt good. The stocks were doing great, Reggie and Bando were hitting great, and Blue and Catfish formed a dominant 1-2 punch. The team had a 3.5 game lead in the AL West, and they were looking to expand it. And on top of that, he had just signed deals through 1977 with Bando, Blue, and Rollie Fingers. Jordan had the feeling that this would not be as commonplace in the future. He'd have success, and it would be expected because he'd been there before. But for now? The sun shone, the money flowed, and Las Vegas loved their A's. So Jordan threw his head back and laughed. He was on top, at least for now. And it felt good. 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[/span]
[/ul]

[suave]

Episode 5:Gaining Momentum

May 1974

Month Record:17-11

Overall Record:33-19, 1st in AL West with a 7 game lead.

HIGHLIGHTS

Reggie Jackson continues to lead the team in home runs, although, at 13, he had 3 less in May than in April. 

Billy North leads the league in steals with 22, while Bert Campenaris is 3rd with 12. 

Oddly enough, the team's only losses were sweeps by California and Milwaukee, with one loss to Texas in the last game of the month. They swept every other series. 

The team has the 3rd best record in the league, behind only the Indians and the St. Louis Cardinals. 

Vida Blue is a stud. He leads the league with 11 wins, and is 5th in ERA at 2.06. Ken Holtzman isn't far behind at 8 wins and a 2.49 ERA. Catfish Hunter is struggling out of the gate with a 4-7 record and a 3.46 ERA, but he'll look to pick it up as the year progresses. 

Rollie Fingers has 8 saves

Sal Bando leads the team with a .290 average. 

TO BE CONTINUED...

[suave]

Hey guys. So, obviously I haven't posted in a bit, and there's a reason for that. I've been really busy with classes. Also, there hasn't been too much response and feedback, and I'd be lying if I said that didn't sour me on this project a little bit. In addition to that, there are other ideas that I've been wanting to work on. I'm still gonna be working on this, it's just that I might be taking a little bit of a break from it. Thank you to everyone who's been following this, it really means a lot.