TTM Stats
- Sent: 3/20/2021 | Received: 4/7/2021 | 17 Days
- ’81 Topps, ’83 Topps, ’85 Fleer, ’12 Topps Gypsy Queen
- Address: PO Box (address from Sports Card Forum)
The Story of the Autograph
Rollie Fingers is a Hall of Fame pitcher (with a Hall of Fame mustache). He was a relief pitcher for the Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres, and Milwaukee Brewers from 1968 to 1985.
Fingers was born in Ohio and grew up in California. He would go on to attend Chaffey Junior College where the Dodgers offered to sign him. But with the amazing pitchers the Dodgers has in that era it wasn’t likely that he would make it to the majors very fast. He instead chose to sign with the Kansas City Athletics for less money. The A’s toyed with making him an outfielder during his time in the minors. He played his first game with the Oakland A’s after they relocated from Kansas City on September 15, 1968.
While he became known as a closer eventually, the first few years in Oakland saw him start 37 games. But he was still mostly a reliever and was relied on to close out games more and more. He earned the first of four consecutive All-Star game nods in 1973, that would eventually become seven All-Star appearances before all was said and done with his career. But the mid-70’s were huge for the A’s and he was a big part of a team that one three straight World Series from 1972 to 1974, and then making it and losing to the Reds in 1975. In 1974 he was the World Series MVP.
Fingers would have a ton of great stats and achievements to add those World Series wins. He led the league and/or majors three times in games and three times in saves with the best of those being 37 saves he got in San Diego. He also won the Rolaids Relief award four times in his career. But the best of the individual awards was the Cy Young and MVP awards he earned in the 1981 season while with the Brewers.
He missed the 1983 season after having back surgery and then played for two more years. He was released by the Brewers and then Pete Rose offered him a contract to play with the Reds. However, Marge Schott, the Reds infamous owner back then, had a clean cut policy that would mean he would have to shave his trademark mustache. Needless to say he didn’t sign.
All-in-all, while rule changes and other general changes in the game have further changed the closer position these days, Fingers is a legendary figure along with others for the closer role. Even though others have surpassed his records and numbers, he’s still one of the great closers of the game.
The Score on Rollie Fingers – 7.0
Rollie has such a fancy signature. I would say it sort of goes with his mustache actually. It looks great on these, especially with the Brewers blue on those cards. I think one of the things I was most happy to have is him being represented with each team he played for.
Thanks Mr. Fingers! I’m giving this return a 7 overall.
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Information gathered using Wikipedia and Baseball Reference.