Wednesday, November 9, 2011

#36 Rollie Fingers Super Veteran


Then and Now:  Fingers in '68 was a promising, fresh faced young starter.  He had four seasons in the minors with ERA's ranging from 2.21 to 3.00.  By '82 he was a bad ass relief ace with a distinctive mustache and three World Series rings.

Career Span: 9/15/68 to 9/17/85

All Star: Fingers was on seven All-Star teams, six AL and one NL squad.  Fingers pitched in five games giving up four runs in 5.1 innings.  Fingers earned the loss in the '81 contest when he gave a up a two run home run to Mike Schmidt that gave the NL the lead in the 8th inning.

League Leader: Fingers led the league in games pitched and saves three times each.  Fingers also led the league in games finished twice.

All Time Ranks: Fingers' 341 saves was the most all-time when he retired but is now 10th.  Fingers pitched in 944 games which is 19th all time.

Post Season: Fingers won three World Series with the A's from '72 to '74.  In all, Fingers pitched in six postseasons with a 4-4 record, 9 saves and a 2.35 ERA in 57.1 innings.

MVP/CY:  Fingers won both awards in '81.  Fingers finished 3rd in Cy Young in '75 and 8th in '76 and '78.  Besides his '81 season, Fingers also received MVP votes in six other seasons finishing as high as 4th in '75.

HOF: In his second year of eligibility Fingers was inducted in '92, receiving 81.2% of the vote.  Fingers received 65.7% of the vote in '91.  Fingers was only the second relief pitcher (after Hoyt Wilhelm) voted into the Hall.

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