Rollie Fingers #34 Fan Center

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Brief Rollie Fingers Biography

Rollie Fingers was ace reliever for every one of his teams: the Oakland Athletics from 1968-1976, the San Diego Padres from 1977-1980, and the Milwaukee Brewers from 1981-1985. Only the second Baseball Hall of Fame reliever ever, he was inducted in 1992. Rollie saved 341 games, and held the Major League Baseball record for most career saves for many years. Rollie is famed for his extravagant handlebar mustache, grown in 1972 as a prank to force team owner Charlie Finley into ordering the removal of facial hair for all team members. But instead of ordering all the A's to shave (including Reggie Jackson's prized beard), Finley offered $300 to any Oakland Athletic who grew a mustache by Father's Day that year. The A's won three World Championships from 1972-1974, and the mustache stayed.
As a Brewer, Rollie was the driving force behind a strike-shortened 2nd-half championship in 1981, winning not only the Cy Young Award but the American League MVP. The next year, he performed brilliantly, winning nearly every award possible for a pitcher, but was held back by an ailing elbw, unable to play in the World Series.
The Padres never fielded a championship team in Fingers' 4-year stay, but he established a personal high of 37 saves in 1978, many in long outings. Gaylord Perry, that year's Cy Young Award Winner credited the hard work of Fingers in helping him win the award. He was an All-Star in 1973, '74, '75 (did not play), '76, '78, '81 and 1982. As a testament to his many accomplishments, and for pioneering the role of relief pitcher, Rollie entered the Hall despite a losing record (114-118) - the first to do so since Satchel Paige.

Selection of Rollie Fingers Biographies

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