Rollie Fingers (born 1946) played 17 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics (1968-1976), San Diego Padres (1977-1980), and the Milwaukee Brewers (1981-1985).
Fingers is best remembered for helping to define the modern closer role. He had such success as a relief pitcher that MLB as a whole began to take another look at the reliever position.
In popular culture, he may be best remembered as “that baseball player with the epic handlebar mustache.” He was invited to the sign with the Cincinnati Reds in 1985 by Pete Rose on the condition from the owner that he be clean shaven. Fingers refused and retired instead, preferring to preserve his look.
Finishing his career with a 114-118, 2.90 ER, and 1,299 strikeouts, Fingers had an MLB record 341 saves, which was later broken in 1992. He was a seven time All Star, the 1981 AL MVP, and the three time MLB saves leader.
Born in Steubenville, Ohio, Fingers grew up in steel country. His father, a former minor league player, hated the lifestyle, and he uprooted his
family to California in search of a better life. Yet, Fingers’ father ended back in the steel industry.
Perhaps as a result, Fingers pursued the baseball opportunity with passion, and he signed with the Kansas City Athletics in 1965.
In a 1967 minor league game, Fingers was hit in the face by the ball. He broke his cheekbone, jaw, and several teeth. His baseball career almost ended early because Fingers, after spending five weeks out with a wired shut jaw, struggled to stay on the mound for a few months. He would jump at every pitch for months.
Yet, Finger persevered, and he started 19 games in 1970 for the Athletics.
By May of 1971, the Athletics manager decided to make Fingers the reliever. Fingers would thrive in the role.
For the entirety of baseball history, a starting pitcher was rarely taken out of the game with a lead. Relievers and saves were rare. With the beginning of the designated hitter in 1973, the reliever option became more attractive. Fingers was one of the first pitchers to be a permanent closer, and he hardly started a game for the rest of his career.
In 1972, 1973, and 1974, the Oakland Athletics had a three peat. Fingers was a major piece of their success, and he won the World Series MVP in 1974. Fingers recorded two saves and a win in 1974.
The Rolaid Relief Man Award was given to the top relief pitchers in MLB in the AL and NL. It was given from 1976 to 2012. Rollie Fingers was given the award in 1977, 1978, and 1980, which illustrates his importance in defining the role of the relief pitcher early on.
The Oakland Athletics and the Milwaukee Brewers both retired his number 34, allowing Fingers to join an elite company of players who have two teams retire their jerseys.
Fingers was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1992 with 81.16% of the vote on the second ballot. He was the second reliever to be inducted.
Rollie Fingers’ baseball cards are straightforward. His rookie card came out in 1969, and there was a valuable Topps card every year for
Fingers until 1979. After that, cards become overproduced, and Fingers’ cards are worth next to nothing.
This article will take you through a few of the most valuable cards of Rollie Fingers.
1969 Topps Rollie Fingers Rookie Card
Fingers sits at card #597 in this 664 card set of standard size. He is a key rookie, along with Reggie Jackson and Bobby Bonds. This set also marks the end of Mickey Mantle Topps cards.
Fingers is featured on an AL rookie card along with Floyd and Burchart. Their card is well preserved. For reference, PSA alone has over 2,650 cards.
This card has been traded frequently, and prices jumped during the pandemic. While a PSA Gem Mint 10 would expect to sell for around $3,000 to $4,500 prior to 2020, the price jumped up to $9,500 in February of 2021.
On a budget of $1,000, it should be easy to find a PSA Mint 9 copy.
1970 Topps Rollie Fingers
In this 720 card set of standard size, Fingers sits at card #502. Johnny Bench, Willie Mays, and Nolan Ryan are important keys on this set.
There are over 600 copies of the Fingers card registered with PSA. Prices fall dramatically for this card. A collector can find a Mint copy for about $100.
1971 Topps Rollie Fingers
Fingers sits at #384 in the 752 card set of standard size. There are 450 of Rollie’s cards registered with PSA.
Gem Mint condition copies of this card have stayed expensive. In 2017, there were sales of $2,025 and $2,325 for Gem Mint copies, and the next most recent sale was in December of 2020 for $3,250. PSA 8’s have sold for around $500 for a few years.
1972 Topps Rollie Fingers
There are 787 cards of standard size in the 1972 Topps. Rollie Fingers sits at card #241.
There are nearly 700 copies of this card graded by PSA, and many of the cards are in top grade. While Gem Mint copies will sell for around $500, a collector could secure a Mint copy for less than $75.
1973 Topps Rollie Fingers
Fingers is at card #84 in this 660 card set of standard size. There are over 400 copies of this card graded by PSA. His cards begin to drop in popularity, and even a Mint copy of this Fingers card will sell for $100.
1974 Topps Rollie Fingers
In this 660 card set of standard size, Fingers is at card #212. There are almost 700 copies of this card registered with PSA. While the occasional Gem Mint copy sells for a few hundred, Mint copies can be bought for under $50.
Conclusion
Rollie Fingers is quite important to the history of baseball as a role defining relief pitcher. There are several important cards throughout his career, and this article went through some of the best.