Roland Glen Fingers was born in Steubenville, Ohio, to George and Pearl (Stafford) Fingers. He played for 17 years in MLB for the A's, Padres and Brewers. Rollie was a starter throughout his minor league career and into his major league career. However, by the end of May 1971, Athletics manager Dick Williams decided that he would be the late-inning closer.

Known for his handlebar mustache, Fingers was part of the Oakland Athletics team that accomplished the first modern-day "three-peat," winning the World Series in 1972, 1973, and 1974. For the third of those championships, he won the World Series Most Valuable Player Award, earning two saves and one win during the series.

He won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award in 1977, 1978, and 1980 with the Padres. In 1981, Fingers won the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award, the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player Award, and AL Cy Young Award. He saved 29 games for the 1982 Brewers, but he pitched most of the season in pain and was forced to miss the Brewers' first (and to date, only) trip to the World Series, where they were beaten in seven games by the Cardinals.

He was a seven time All-Star.

In 1992 he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. In 1999, he ranked Number 96 on The Sporting News list of Baseball's Greatest Players, and was nominated as a finalist for the Major League Baseball All-Century Team. Fingers is one of only ten players who have had their numbers retired from more than one team.

Rollie's father played minor league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals and roomed with Stan Musial. In addition to his father, Fingers' brother, Gordon was a minor league pitcher in the A's organization. His son Jason was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in 2000.

(excerpted from Wikipedia, BR Bullpen & SABR)