Rollie Fingers

Baseball legend Roland “Rollie” Fingers, renowned for his stellar pitching and iconic moustache, carved his name into the annals of Major League Baseball history over a remarkable 17-year career. Born in Ohio and raised in California, Fingers embarked on his professional journey at the age of 18 when he signed with the minor-league Kansas City Athletics in 1964. Four years later, he made his mark with the Oakland Athletics, a tenure marked by three consecutive World Series victories in the 1970s and an impressive seven MLB All-Star game appearances. The Athletics honored him by retiring his number 34 when he departed the team.

In 1972, Fingers sported the moustache that would become his trademark, initially growing it to vie for a $300 prize offered by the team’s owner. This coincided with the Athletics’ triumphant triple-World Series streak from 1972 to 1974. Following his tenure with the Athletics, he joined the San Diego Padres in 1976, clinching the Rolaids Relief Man Award three times during his three-year stint. His final playing years were with the Milwaukee Brewers, where his number was also retired, and he earned a place on their Walk of Fame.

Inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992, Fingers left an indelible legacy, refusing to compromise his iconic moustache even when offered a final season with the Cincinnati Reds. More than three decades after his retirement, Rollie Fingers remains celebrated by every team he played for, a finalist in the MLB’s All-Century Team selection, and an enduring figure in the pantheon of baseball’s greatest pitchers.