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ANAHEIM – Not long ago, baseball players bore an expiration date.

In 1980, 39-year-old Pete Rose was the oldest position player in baseball, and there were only two others over 36. Phil Niekro and Gaylord Perry were starting pitchers at 41, but Luis Tiant, at 39, was the only other starter over 37.

"Before that, you had to go to work in the offseason to make money," said Jim Fregosi, special assistant to Atlanta Braves' management. "I had a construction company; I was in the fish business. You went to spring training to get in shape."

On Friday the Angels signed Steve Finley to a two-year contract, with an option, that could be worth $20million. Finley will turn 40 during spring training.

On Thursday the Dodgers gave Jeff Kent a two-year deal worth $17million. Kent will turn 37 on March7.

The Giants gave Omar Vizquel three years and $12.5million to play shortstop. Vizquel will be 38 in April. The Padres gave Woody Williams, 38, $3.5million to pitch in '05.

The Braves even brought back Julio Franco for $1million next year. Franco is listed at 46, but he doesn't count the years in which he was the ruler of Spain.

"And he's got the lowest body-fat reading on our team," Fregosi said.

The autumn has been dominated by people who can remember rotary-dial phones. Barry Bonds, 40, and Roger Clemens, 42, won the NL's top postseason awards. Randy Johnson, 41, struck out 290.

Kent, Jeff Bagwell (36) and Craig Biggio (36) led Houston to within a ninth-inning hit of the National League pennant. Larry Walker (37 at the time) helped the Cardinals win it.

Curt Schilling, 38, pitched the Red Sox to a Game2 World Series victory and, in 12 years, will be scrawling "AARP" on his shoe.

Vinnie Castilla, at 37, led the NL with 131 RBIs.

So the last issue the Angels faced Friday was Finley's age, especially if you looked at him, or remembered how nearly every big Dodgers victory in September seemed to end with Finley circling the bases.

In 58 Dodgers games, Finley drove in 46 runs. He ran particularly well considering he was dragging the Dodgers pitching staff behind him. His grand slam on the next-to-last day ended the NL West race. Then he dealt the Giants another shot to the midsection when he picked Anaheim over San Francisco and Detroit.

"I don't blame them for being upset," said agent Tommy Tanzer, when told of the Giants' indignation, "but I didn't have time to call anybody back."

Tanzer and Finley were more mystified by the Dodgers' paralysis, even though they made it fairly clear they were always renting the center fielder.

"They have a young organization," Tanzer said. "They have a long way to go with their communication."

"At the end of the season I thought I'd be playing for them again," Finley said. "Then we didn't hear a thing. It makes you scratch your head a little bit."

When Finley scratches his head, his hair doesn't come with it.

"He's captured the fountain of youth," said Matt Williams, his former Arizona teammate. "I just wish he'd given it to me."

"He's a freak,"said Jerry Stephenson, the Red Sox scout. "He's just another example of how these guys condition themselves. When you were 35 back when I played, you normally were home."

Finley set a career high for homers (36) last season, tied his high for games (all 162), and his 170 hits were his third-best. His career accelerated, he said, in 1997, when he began using the flexibility-based workout program of Dr. Edythe Heus, who has developed a program called ProBodx and has collaborated on several books with Orange County fitness expert Marv Marinovich.

"I used to work out with him," Williams said. "He does a lot of work in the pool, a lot of work on core strength. He does the things you need to do to play that position, because you can't get all bulked-up when you play center field."

"I had to find something to make my body work more efficiently," Finley said. "That's exactly what this program does. You're playing 162 games in 181 days. You might only feel your best once a week. This is designed to carry you through those times, and it's been great for me. I have every intention of playing as long as I can."

Playing within an hour's drive of his San Diego County home might extend that career, too. Finley has four children "and a fifth on the way."

He gives the Angels at least four left-hand hitters in the lineup, but that's not such a bad thing when Garret Anderson and Darin Erstad can wear out lefty pitchers, and Finley hit them at a .308 clip last year.

Most critically, Finley was available earlier and at a more economic rate than Carlos Beltran.

Now the Angels can wade into the pitching pool, which contains Matt Clement, Derek Lowe and Carl Pavano via free agency and, if you believe in shooting the moon, Tim Hudson and Randy Johnson by trade.

And lefty reliever Steve Kline is out there, in case anyone remembers Game3 of the Division Series.

Of course, Kline might not be qualified. He's only 32.

"Satchel Paigesaid it best," said Finley. "Just think how old you'd feel if you didn't know how old you were."

And Finley and Paige were only teammates for a couple of years.

Anyway, there was nothing close to a senior moment on Friday - until somebody asked Finley about the act of transitioning from the Dodgers to the Angels.

"It's still L.A., right?" Finley replied.

Wrong, Steve.


		December 11, 2004 - The Orange County Register Finley isn't acting his age He is among older players who play young enough to merit big deals. By MARK WHICKER Register columnist

		ANAHEIM – Not long ago, baseball players bore an expiration date. In 1980, 39-year-old Pete Rose was the oldest position player in baseball, and there were only two others over 36. Phil Niekro and Gaylord Perry were starting pitchers at 41, but Luis Tiant, at 39, was the only other starter over 37. "Before that, you had to go to work in the offseason to make money," said Jim Fregosi, special assistant to Atlanta Braves' management. "I had a construction company; I was in the fish business. You went to spring training to get in shape." On Friday the Angels signed Steve Finley to a two-year contract, with an option, that could be worth $20million. Finley will turn 40 during spring training. On Thursday the Dodgers gave Jeff Kent a two-year deal worth $17million. Kent will turn 37 on March7. The Giants gave Omar Vizquel three years and $12.5million to play shortstop. Vizquel will be 38 in April. The Padres gave Woody Williams, 38, $3.5million to pitch in '05. The Braves even brought back Julio Franco for $1million next year. Franco is listed at 46, but he doesn't count the years in which he was the ruler of Spain. "And he's got the lowest body-fat reading on our team," Fregosi said. The autumn has been dominated by people who can remember rotary-dial phones. Barry Bonds, 40, and Roger Clemens, 42, won the NL's top postseason awards. Randy Johnson, 41, struck out 290. Kent, Jeff Bagwell (36) and Craig Biggio (36) led Houston to within a ninth-inning hit of the National League pennant. Larry Walker (37 at the time) helped the Cardinals win it. Curt Schilling, 38, pitched the Red Sox to a Game2 World Series victory and, in 12 years, will be scrawling "AARP" on his shoe. Vinnie Castilla, at 37, led the NL with 131 RBIs. So the last issue the Angels faced Friday was Finley's age, especially if you looked at him, or remembered how nearly every big Dodgers victory in September seemed to end with Finley circling the bases. In 58 Dodgers games, Finley drove in 46 runs. He ran particularly well considering he was dragging the Dodgers pitching staff behind him. His grand slam on the next-to-last day ended the NL West race. Then he dealt the Giants another shot to the midsection when he picked Anaheim over San Francisco and Detroit. "I don't blame them for being upset," said agent Tommy Tanzer, when told of the Giants' indignation, "but I didn't have time to call anybody back." Tanzer and Finley were more mystified by the Dodgers' paralysis, even though they made it fairly clear they were always renting the center fielder. "They have a young organization," Tanzer said. "They have a long way to go with their communication." "At the end of the season I thought I'd be playing for them again," Finley said. "Then we didn't hear a thing. It makes you scratch your head a little bit." When Finley scratches his head, his hair doesn't come with it. "He's captured the fountain of youth," said Matt Williams, his former Arizona teammate. "I just wish he'd given it to me." "He's a freak,"said Jerry Stephenson, the Red Sox scout. "He's just another example of how these guys condition themselves. When you were 35 back when I played, you normally were home." Finley set a career high for homers (36) last season, tied his high for games (all 162), and his 170 hits were his third-best. His career accelerated, he said, in 1997, when he began using the flexibility-based workout program of Dr. Edythe Heus, who has developed a program called ProBodx and has collaborated on several books with Orange County fitness expert Marv Marinovich. "I used to work out with him," Williams said. "He does a lot of work in the pool, a lot of work on core strength. He does the things you need to do to play that position, because you can't get all bulked-up when you play center field." "I had to find something to make my body work more efficiently," Finley said. "That's exactly what this program does. You're playing 162 games in 181 days. You might only feel your best once a week. This is designed to carry you through those times, and it's been great for me. I have every intention of playing as long as I can." Playing within an hour's drive of his San Diego County home might extend that career, too. Finley has four children "and a fifth on the way." He gives the Angels at least four left-hand hitters in the lineup, but that's not such a bad thing when Garret Anderson and Darin Erstad can wear out lefty pitchers, and Finley hit them at a .308 clip last year. Most critically, Finley was available earlier and at a more economic rate than Carlos Beltran. Now the Angels can wade into the pitching pool, which contains Matt Clement, Derek Lowe and Carl Pavano via free agency and, if you believe in shooting the moon, Tim Hudson and Randy Johnson by trade. And lefty reliever Steve Kline is out there, in case anyone remembers Game3 of the Division Series. Of course, Kline might not be qualified. He's only 32. "Satchel Paigesaid it best," said Finley. "Just think how old you'd feel if you didn't know how old you were." And Finley and Paige were only teammates for a couple of years. Anyway, there was nothing close to a senior moment on Friday - until somebody asked Finley about the act of transitioning from the Dodgers to the Angels. "It's still L.A., right?" Finley replied. Wrong, Steve.

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