Rollie Fingers Comes To Burlington

Like father like son, I guess. What brought Rollie Fingers, the HOF pitcher to Burlington, Iowa for a 4 day visit? The 10th round draft pick by the Kansas City Royals in the 2000 draft was a young man by the name of Jason Fingers, who is hoping to follow his dad's path to the majors. Jason is currently the closer for the Burlington Bees. (quotations are taken from 5/20 Burlington Hawk Eye article)

"Now I know how my dad felt when he watched me pitch," Fingers said laughing. "You want to throw every pitch for him, you want to make every play for him, but you just can't do it".

Jason donned catcher's gear before the ball game in order to catch his father, who was honored by being chosen to throw out the first pitch of the ball game. Mr. Fingers was kind enough to sign autographs for two innings for the fans who cared to ask for one. My wife and I each got in line twice, and I got a 1970 Topps, a large 1986 Topps, and a Fleer Greats of the Game signed for myself as well as a card for a friend. My patient wife doesn't understand my fascination with getting cardboard pictures signed, but is willing to humor me.

Rollie Fingers almost began his career in Burlington. In 1966, when Burlington was an Athletics farm team, he had been playing with the squad destined for Burlington for most of spring training. Then right at the end of spring training, he was told to report to Modesto, CA instead. Fingers went on to Oakland for nine seasons and helped take the team to World Series Titles in 1972, 1973 and 1974. The highest salary he was paid while pitching for the great team was $65,000. During the off-season he worked for minimum wage at Sears-Roebuck. The difference between today's players and players of my generation, is the money, Fingers said. "After my $65,000 year, I signed with the San Diego Padres for $225,000 plus a $500,000 signing bonus. I had never seen so many zeros on a check before." Fingers pitched four seasons in San Diego but never made it to the play offs. After the 1980 season he accepted an offer from the Brewers. "Leaving San Diego was like getting out of jail," Fingers said. "I wanted to win again."

Today Fingers is president of a company called Authentic which grades baseball cards and does some authentication of sports memorabilia. "I go to card shows and see things that are supposedly signed by me that don't have anything looking like my signature," Fingers said. "I'll go tell them to take that off the table, because that is not my signature."

Growing up with a Hall of Fame pitcher as a tutor had to be a great benefit to Jason. Fingers is pleased with the way his son pitches. "I told him to throw the ball over the plate," Fingers said. "Not over the middle of the plate, because it will get hit. But he has got good control. He's good at spotting his pitches. He has been successful, he's able to throw strikes. The best thing you can do in this game is have control. If you don't know where the ball is going, you might as well pack up your glove and go home."

Fingers knows why his career was successful. "I had half way decent control and I had great team mates," he said. "I played with Campaneris at Oakland, with Ozzie Smith at short stop in San Diego and with Robin Yount and Jim Gatner in the middle infield in Milwaukee. I always had great defense up the middle."

Rollie Fingers is the first of three greats of the game scheduled to show-up at Burlington this season. Vida Blue, a former Burlington Bee stand-out, is scheduled to appear at Community Field on July 27th, and we have been promised a visit from Kansas City's George Brett as well.

An autograph hound at Burlington would have had great pickings Saturday. Former major leaguers Andre David and Ron Clark were there representing Kansas City as roving instructors, and Burlington's coaching staff includes former major leaguers Jose Bautista, Joe Szekeley, and Terry Bradshaw, and in the other dugout you'd find Steve Scarscone managing South Bend and accompanying them is Willie Wilson, a former American League batting champion, who serves as their hitting coach.

That's about it for now. Keep writing and have fun with the hobby. I know I do.

~ Rich Hanson