A Legacy of Mustaches and Fire
Chapman Surpasses Fingers in Saves History.
Baseball is a sport of numbers, but also of stories, of legacies that intertwine across the decades. Last night, when Aroldis Chapman (342 SV) surpassed Rollie Fingers for 15th on the all-time saves list, it wasn't just a change in a statistic.
The Red Sox's 3-1 victory over the Mets at Fenway Park and the save by “The Cuban Missile” sparked an even more momentous event. It was the meeting of two eras, two philosophies on how to close out a game, and two diametrically opposed personalities who left their mark on the diamond in very different ways.
Chapman, the Cuban with the smoky 105 mph fastball, and Fingers, the legendary closer for the Athletics and Brewers, with his iconic mustache and his style from another era, represent a vivid example of the evolution of a closer in the Major Leagues. But beyond the numbers, their careers are full of nuances, little-known anecdotes, and an impact that transcends statistics.
Fingers' story is incredible and has an interesting Cuban connection. He began his career in Oakland at age 21 during the 1968 season. He made only one appearance, and it was terrible. It was in the bottom of the fourth inning against Detroit in a game late in the season, on September 15. Tigers pitcher Mickey Lolich was the first batter Fingers faced.
Lolich doubled and then scored on Dick McAuliffe's single. And here comes the first Cuban connection, as McAuliffe was thrown out trying to reach second base safely. Cuban shortstop Bert Campaneris made the assist that helped put McAuliffe out, securing the first of 5,103 outs in Fingers' 17-season career.
Early in his career, Fingers was a mediocre starting pitcher (his record in 1969 was 6-7 with a 4.17 ERA). In 1971, the Athletics almost included him in a deal for Dominican outfielder Felipe Alou, but the trade fell through. Shortly after, manager Dick Williams moved Fingers to the bullpen. What was the result? Fingers became one of the best closers of the decade, helping Oakland win three World Series.
Rollie Fingers: The Mustache, the Clutch, and the Stamina of Another Era
Rollie Fingers was not only known for his upturned mustache—a style he adopted in 1972 when Athletics owner Charlie Finley offered $300 to any player who would grow one—but also for his ability to pitch multiple innings in high-leverage situations. In an era when relievers weren't one-inning specialists, Fingers racked up 341 saves (now 16th in history) with a stamina that seems unthinkable today: 1,701 ⅓ innings pitched, more than double Chapman's (778).