 In 1968, Oakland Athletics owner Charles O. Finley introduced "ball girls" (young girls who would sit in foul territory near the baselines to retrieve baseballs grounded foul by batters) to major league baseball.Debbi, with the help of a sister who at the time was a secretary at the A's offices, was one of the first ones he hired.She was paid five dollars an hour and would use the money to buy ingredients for what would become her famous cookies.