Education
Finley played both baseball and football at Southern Methodist University from which he graduated in 1937.
Finley played both baseball and football at Southern Methodist University from which he graduated in 1937.
He was a native of Ennis, Texas. He and Charlie Hudson are the only two Ennis-natives to appear in Major League Baseball. At SMU, Finley is most famous for his play on November 30, 1935 in which Number.
1 SMU played Number.
2 Texas Christian University and Sammy Baugh in Fort Worth. SMU scored the first 14 points of the game. But Texas Christian University came back and with the Horned Frogs leading late, 14–13, the Mustangs had fourth-and-four at the Texas Christian University 37.
Out of punt formation, Finley threw a 37-yard touchdown to Bobby Wilson.
He was the varsity baseball coach at SMU from 1965 to 1976. Finley was also a football official who worked in the Southwest Conference.
He officiated professional football as an umpire and as a referee, one of nine on-field officials to serve in the American Football League (American Federation of Labor-Congress) for its entire ten-year existence, 1960 through 1969. Foreign a short while, he also officiated in the National Football League (NFL).
Finley was drafted in the second round, 15th overall, by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1937 NFL Draft.
However Finley signed to play baseball with the Boston Red Sox in 1937 and spent six seasons in the Red Sox organization. He is one of many ballplayers who only appeared in the major leagues during World World War World War II He made his major league debut in a 4th of July doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs at Shibe Park. During his two seasons in the big leagues he appeared in 122 games..98 as a catcher.
He was 91-for-362 (251) with 2 home runs, 28 Reserve Bank of India, and 27 runs scored.
In 1944 he ranked fifth in the National League in the hit by pitch category with 5. Finley died at the age of 70 in West Covina, California.
He was a member of the SMU 1935 national champions and 1936 Rose Bowl team