Charlie O. Finley, the famously flamboyant former owner of the Oakland Athletics, once attempted (and fortunately failed) to make a fundamental change to the national American pastime.
His suggestion? To have major league baseballs colored orange.
[The orange balls would have nicely complemented the night World Series games which he advocated in an effort to boost fan interest. Among his other inventions? Ball girls and a mechanical rabbit designed to procure baseballs for the umpires.]
[Among Finley's other eccentricities? Relocating the Oakland A's Double-A franchise to Birmingham (because he was born there) and parading a mule named Charley O about the field, into cocktail parties, and through hotel lobbies.]
Sources
Sports Illustrated
