Rollie Fingers Talks All-Star Game Memories, MLB Closers and Bruce Sutter’s Beard

Rollie Fingers is known for two things. First, for being a Hall of Fame relief pitcher who revolutionized the role of team closer in the mid- to late-70s. Secondly, he’s known for his glorious handlebar mustache. So when you get a chance to speak with the 1981 AL MVP, naturally, you want to ask him about those two things in particular. And that’s exactly what we did.

Check out what Rollie Fingers had to say about the game today, the modern day closer and the facial hair stylings of Brian Wilson and Bruce Sutter.

Tell me a little bit about the Pepsi Max campaign and how you got involved.
We did the Pepsi Max “Field of Dreams” commercial, and then they came up with this program where they’re going to have fans vote, between now and August 31, on three guys at each position. They’ll choose a team, and that team will play against the fans. They’ll pick a person from each region in the United States and that team of fans will play in a game against all of the guys they picked. You go to MLB.com/PepsiMax and you’ll see three guys at each position — I’m at relief pitcher position with Dennis Eckersley and Goose Gossage — and you choose which person you think is the best at that position, and in the spring you’ll get to play against us.

Well, you’ve got a one game situation here — must win — who would you want to start at pitcher?
Right now, with the players that are playing today, probably Roy Halladay. I think he’s probably the best pitcher out there.

You were a 7-time All-Star–do you have a favorite All-Star game memories?
Probably the one in San Diego (1978), because I was playing with the Padres at the time and I was able to pitch in that game–had a strikeout, no runs given up. That and the first one, 1973 in Kansas City. You know, you remember those things.

We have the home run derby, of course, but do you think there would be any interest in a pitcher skills contest?
(Laughs) I don’t think they’re going to have anything like that. Pitchers have to save their arms. Hitters… well, you can hit more than you can pitch. So I don’t think there’s going to be any skills competition for pitchers. Guys would have to warm up, throw the ball, and then they’d might not be able to pitch in the All-Star game itself. So, yeah, you want to save your arm if you’re a pitcher. I don’t know if there’s any skills game you can come up with where pitchers can compete.

How do you think the role as a closer has changed since you played?
There’s more guys in the bullpen, and it’s more of a specialized position. Starting pitchers are only allowed to go 5, 6 innings and then they hit that 100-pitch mark and they’re out of the ballgame. I don’t think it’s that starting pitchers can’t go 9 innings, I just think the way the game has evolved, managers don’t want to get second guessed. You’ve got 8-9 guys down there in the bullpen that you can choose from to pitch–you got your long man, you got your set-up man, you got your closer… that’s just the way the game has evolved to. Those set-up guys can go out there and strikeout the side in the 8th inning and it doesn’t matter how well they pitched, the closer is going to be out there in the 9th inning. That’s just the way the game goes.

It’s completely different from when I played. When we got to the 6th inning and we were leading, I was in there from the 6th inning on. I didn’t mind going out there. I don’t think I could do it the way they do it today. I needed a lot of work to stay sharp. I didn’t mind going out there pitching 3, 4 innings — get 4-inning saves. Today, your closer is a one-inning pitcher and that’s basically it.

Is Mariano Rivera still the best closer in baseball?
Oh yeah, without a doubt. He’s getting up there in age–around 40 years old. Everybody knows what he’s going to throw and he still gets guys out. As a closer you need three things — you need control, you need control and you need control. And he’s got control. And that’s why he’s done as well as he has. He knows where he’s throwing the ball, he hits spots, he moves the ball around, he goes right after you… and he throws that cut-fastball. Everyone knows he’s going to throw it and they still can’t hit it. So, yeah, he’s probably the best out there right now.

You were obviously known for your facial hair–what do you think about Brian Wilson’s facial hair?
Brian is a heck of a relief pitcher, but he looks like he belongs out in the woods with an ax in his hands chopping down trees (laughs). But he’s a great pitcher, he goes right after you, he’s got good stuff, he’s not afraid of anybody. He’s a great relief pitcher, and I got no problem with the beard. If that’s his thing, that’s his thing. People got on me about my mustache when I was playing because there were no mustaches at the time. I didn’t care. I was getting guys out, so I wasn’t going to cut it off. And I don’t think he cares either.

One of your fellow relief pitchers Bruce Sutter rocked a pretty long beard. Can you say that your facial hair in the early 80s was better than Sutter’s?
[Laughs] Bruce kind of brought in the beard. I don’t think I could handle a beard, especially in the hot weather. I didn’t want all that facial hair on me. Bruce was a great relief pitcher and that was his thing, that was his style. And people recognized him when he was out there because of the beard. If you’re successful and you got a beard, who cares!

 

For more on the Pepsi Max “Field of Dreams” campaign and to cast your vote, click here.