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One of the most effective closers in the history of the game, Rollie Fingers achieved individual and team success. During his 17-year career, Fingers earned 341 saves, leading the league three times.

The reliever pitched in the postseason 6 times and helped three teams capture the World Series title. Fingers’ Oakland Athletics reached the American League Championship Series five consecutive years starting in 1971. They won it all three straight seasons from ’72-’74.

In the Fall Classic Fingers was magnificent.

In ’72 he pitched in six of the seven games and posted a sparkling 1.74 ERA while striking out 11 batters in 10 1/3 innings. The next season his ERA was a miniscule 0.66 in the Fall Classic in 13 2/3 frames.

Then in 1974 he reached the pinnacle of his career. His team won their third World Series crown with Fingers earning one win and two saves in their four victories. For his efforts he was named the MVP.

On the collection is this letter from signed by baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn. Baseball’s chief writes about the sport’s biggest stage.

“The World Series is the premier event of American Sports.

“No other event has been able to capture it’s special appeal or match its magnificent history.”

Kuhn later writes of the 1971 seven-game thriller. His final sentence alludes to the first of Fingers’ championships.

“To our loyal fans, I dedicate the 1972 World Series.”

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Rollie Fingers was a dominant reliever of his era. The seven-time All Star led the league in saves three times, had 20 or more ten times and finished with 341 overall. After the required 5-year wait, he appeared on the writers ballot for the Hall of Fame. Sixty-five and seven-tenths percent of the scribes voted for him in his first year. The following year that number rose to 81.2% and Fingers gained his plaque.

The writers also elected three-time Cy Young Award winner Tom Seaver with a then-record 98.8% of the vote. Back-to-back MVP and 207-game winner Hal Newhouser and the respected Bill McGowan who umpired for 30 seasons were the choices by the Veterans Committee choices.

The four men were inducted on a sunny afternoon on Sunday, August 2, 1992. Shown here is an invitation to the ceremony. Newhouser’s signature appears at the bottom of the invitation.

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Rollie Fingers had quite a career. A 7-time All Star, Cy Young and MVP Award winning pitcher, he was also a three-time World Series champ and Fall Classic MVP.

He finished his career as one of baseball’s most respected relievers. In 1992 baseball writers voted him into Cooperstown

In this handwritten letter Fingers writes what it means to him to be in the Hall of Fame.

The handwritten letter reads in part, “I sit at induction ceremonies with Koufax, Gibson, Ford, Feller, Mays, Robinson, all players I idolized as a kid and now to have my name in the same sentence as these players is something you can’t explain. Being honored as a Hall of Famer means you were the best at what you did and that your dreams came true.”