Rollie Fingers

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Fingers joined the Athletics late in the 1968 season, making his major league debut in relief on September 15 against the Detroit Tigers. It was a disastrous beginning — he allowed four hits including a Bill Freehan home run, walked one, hit another, threw a wild pitch, and allowed four runs while getting just four outs in a 13–0 loss. The 1969 season was a dramatic improvement: he picked up his first career win with a complete game shutout on April 22, a 7-0 road win against the Minnesota Twins, and earned his first save on May 13 against the Boston Red Sox. Fingers started 19 games in 1970, but his last regular rotation start came on May 15, 1971, against the Kansas City Royals, where he gave up one run on four hits in five full innings. On April 29, he recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts in a 3–2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, a pitching duel with Jim Palmer; it was the last complete game he would pitch. Late in May 1971, manager Dick Williams decided Fingers would be the late-inning closer. Beginning with a May 21 relief appearance and continuing until July 15, Fingers recorded 30+2⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings, with 11 scoreless appearances including a win and six saves, as well as a 7-inning relief stint on July 9 against the California Angels. During the 1973 season, Fingers broke John Wyatt's record of 73 career saves with the Athletics. During spring training in 1974, Fingers and teammate Blue Moon Odom got into a fight in the A's locker room after Odom made a comment about Fingers's wife. Though the incident lasted less than a minute, Fingers required six stitches on his head, and Odom sprained his ankle and had a noticeable limp.

In Their Own Story

The ninth inning hung heavy over the Coliseum at night. The scoreboard flickered, showing a one-run lead. Fingers stepped onto the mound, adjusting his cap as the crowd noise swelled into a deafening roar. He wiped his glove, eyes locked on the batter who had been hitting well all series. With two outs and a runner on second, he wound up. The pitch snapped over the plate, and the batter swung just inches wide. Strike three. Fingers nodded once to catcher Gene Tenace, the mustache twitching slightly in satisfaction as the season moved one step closer to glory.

Reader's Guide

Rollie Fingers arrived in Oakland as a young right-handed reliever and quickly became the final line of defense for the franchise's golden era. During his tenure from 1968 through 1976, he helped transform the role of the relief pitcher into a specialized art form known today as the closer. His dominance on the mound was matched only by his larger-than-life personality and trademark handlebar mustache. Fingers contributed significantly to three consecutive World Series titles in 1972, 1973, and 1974, solidifying Oakland's place among baseball royalty. He was a seven-time All-Star overall, though the source does not specify how many of those selections came with Oakland. His ability to navigate high-pressure situations defined an era of pitching excellence. Fingers was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992, making him just the second reliever elected after Hoyt Wilhelm. The Athletics retired his uniform number following his induction.

Did You Know?

• Fingers made his major league debut in relief on September 15, 1968, allowing four hits including a Bill Freehan home run and four runs while getting just four outs in a 13–0 loss.
• He recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts in a 3–2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on April 29, 1971, a pitching duel with Jim Palmer that was the last complete game he would pitch.
• Beginning May 21, 1971, Fingers threw 30+2⁄3 consecutive scoreless innings, with 11 scoreless appearances including a win and six saves.
• During spring training in 1974, Fingers got into a locker room fight with teammate Blue Moon Odom after Odom made a comment about Fingers's wife; Fingers needed six stitches on his head.
• Fingers broke John Wyatt's record of 73 career saves with the Athletics.