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Rollie Fingers

Rollie Fingers is one of the former baseball players who hold the honor of being inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Rollie was born on August 25, 1946 in the Steubenville suburb at Ohio. Nicknamed as Mr. Mustache, he listed a height of 6 feet 4 inches with a weight of 195 pounds. He acquired a right handed batting and throwing style. He entered into his first professional stint on September 15, 1968 at the age of 22 years and compiled last game of his career on 17 September, 1985.

Rollie was known for his control and durability which made it a point never to pitch more than two innings at a time in order to maintain his strength. He began the 1969, 1970, and 1971 seasons as a starter, but finished all three seasons in the bullpen. In 1972, he finally became a full time reliever, compiling 11 game victories in relief and saving 21 to lead Oakland to its first ever World Series appearance. In the decisive seventh game against the Reds, Rollie worked out of a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the eighth inning to preserve the 3-2 victory mark and the championship.

Rollie amassed another 22 saves with a 1.92 era in 1973 with two World Series saves, and led the American League in games in 1974 with a 76 mark. Rollie led the American League in appearances in 1975 with 75 mark, but lost 11 games in relief in 1976. Later, Rollie signed on with San Diego as a free agent in 1977. He promptly led his new league in appearances with 78 mark, and also led the league for the first time in saves with 35 mark. He advanced to Milwaukee in a blockbuster 7 player swap and showed he still had plenty of arm left, though, leading the American League in saves with 28.

Rollie figured in 55 percent of his team's victories, and won the MVP, the Most Valuable Player and the CY Young awards. He pitched much of the 1982 season in pain, saving 29 games, but missed the entire 1983 season. At the age of 38, he came back in 1984 to compile 23 saves for a team that won only 67 games. In 1985 age finally caught up to Rollie, who slumped to a 5.04 Earned Run Average, and he was released by the Brewers at the end of the year.

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