Fingers wraps up A’s dynasty with 1974 World Series MVP
And the man responsible for the majority of those 12 World Series wins was named Rollie Fingers.
Fingers was named to the first of seven All-Star Games in 1973, led the AL in appearances with 76 in 1974 and won a combined 23 games and saved 44 more in 1975-76. By then, Athletics owner Charlie Finley had begun to dismantle his dynasty in the face of free agency – and Fingers left Oakland to sign with the Padres prior to the 1977 season.
Fingers led the NL in saves in both 1977 and 1978, then posted his best-ever season in 1981 following a trade to Milwaukee. That year, Fingers was 6-3 with 28 saves in a strike-shortened season, winning the AL Cy Young and Most Valuable Player Awards.
But for the man who held the career saves record from 1980-91, the team success with the Athletics would always be his defining time.
“Every bottle,” Fingers said of the victory champagne following the World Series victories, “tastes a little better every year.”
Fingers’ jersey from Game 5 of the 1974 World Series is on exhibit in the Hall of Fame’s Autumn Glory exhibit.
Craig Muder is the director of communications for the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
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