OAKLAND – Though the term “ace” is usually reserved for an elite starting pitcher, an exception can be made for the brilliance of Rollie Fingers.

A trailblazer for relief pitching in the modern era of baseball, Fingers left his mark as one of the game’s first truly dominant closers. Playing his first nine seasons in the Majors with the A’s before finishing with stints as a Padre and Brewer, Fingers found major success throughout a 17-year career that ultimately ended with him being one of the first relievers to be enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame.

From debuting what became legendary facial hair to a starring role as part of an Oakland dynasty, let’s take a look back at the top 10 moments of Fingers’ baseball life.

1. Bringing Oakland its first World Series title
Oct. 22, 1972

There’s no feeling for a sports fan base quite like the experience of their favorite team winning a championship. That feeling is only intensified when it’s the first time. Although the storied A’s franchise had amassed five World Series titles prior to 1972, all five came during the club’s stint in Philadelphia. Championship No. 6 for the A’s was their first in Oakland, and Fingers played a starring role.

The A’s engaged in a tightly contested ‘72 Fall Classic against the “Big Red Machine” Reds that went seven games. It was Fingers who finished it off for the “Swingin’ A’s” by closing out Game 7 at Riverfront Stadium with two hitless innings to record his second save of the series. He appeared in six of the seven games against Cincinnati and allowed just two runs on four hits in 10 1/3 innings.

2. Earning World Series MVP for 1974 performance
Oct. 12-17, 1974

The A’s dispatched of the Dodgers in five games. However, the separation between the two clubs was minimal as four of the five contests were decided by one run. Making a huge difference was Fingers, who appeared in four games of that Fall Classic and allowed just two runs in 9 1/3 innings pitched. Picking up a win and notching two saves – including two shutout innings to close out Game 5 – Fingers was named MVP of a World Series that capped a “three-peat” for the A’s stood as the last major sports championship won by a Bay Area franchise in its home stadium or arena until the NBA’s Golden State Warriors clinched the 2017 NBA Finals at Oracle Arena in Oakland.

3. Moving from a starting role to relief
1971

Fingers was a starter throughout his Minor League career and even dabbled with a starting role at times early on in his Major League career. But that all changed for good in May of 1971, when Fingers’ strong showing out of the bullpen was enough for A’s manager Dick Williams to declare he would close out games for the rest of the season. Often utilized to pitch the game’s final two or three innings, Fingers paved the way for what later morphed into a traditional closer role adopted by every big league club.

4. Breaking the all-time saves record
June 7, 1980

Fingers’ 228th career save came while playing for the Padres broke the all-time saves record that was previously held by Hoyt Wilhelm. In typical Fingers fashion, he notched the history-making save in long relief with three shutout innings against the Reds. Later becoming the first MLB pitcher to reach 300 saves, Fingers finished his career with 341 saves, which stood as the all-time record until Jeff Reardon surpassed it in 1992. With saves becoming more prominent after his retirement, Fingers currently ranks 15th on the all-time saves list.

5. Winning MVP and Cy Young in first year with Brewers
1981

Few players in baseball history fared better in a debut season with a new team than Fingers, who joined the Brewers in 1981 and electrified Milwaukee by winning both the AL MVP and Cy Young Award. In what was a strike-shortened season, Fingers posted a 1.04 ERA, 0.87 WHIP and led the league with 28 saves, helping the Brewers reach the postseason for the first time in franchise history. Fingers put together another stellar season one year later to lead the Brewers to their first World Series appearance.

6. Closing out the only combined no-hitter in A’s history
Sept. 28, 1975

A combined no-hitter against the Angels on the final day of the regular season was closed out by Fingers, who tossed two perfect innings to complete what was the eighth no-no in A’s history and third of the Oakland era. The two scoreless frames also helped Fingers push his ERA under 3.00 for the season, ending up at 2.98.

“I was a little nervous although the pressure was less than it is in a playoff or World Series game,” said Fingers. “The guys in the dugout were razzing me so much that I knew if I gave up a hit I’d hear about it all winter long.”

7. Giving birth to the mustache
1972

In protest of the unpopular beard Reggie Jackson showed up with during Spring Training, Fingers was among the several A’s players who decided to grow out their facial hair hoping that it would lead to management forcing Jackson to shave. Instead, this development sparked an idea for then-owner Charlie O. Finley, who decided to offer a prize of $300 to the player who could best grow and maintain their facial hair by Opening Day. This led to the naming of “The Mustache Gang” for the group of ‘72 A’s that decided to grow mustaches and went on to capture the first World Series title in Oakland history. Though most members of that team eventually shaved, Fingers still rocks his iconic handlebar ‘stache to this day.

8. Choosing the mustache over his career
Feb. 21, 1986

After posting the worst statistical season of his career with the Brewers in 1985, Fingers went late into the offseason unsigned. Then came an offer from the Reds in February just before the start of Spring Training. There was just one problem: Cincinnati had a long-standing ban on facial hair of any kind – mustaches included. At age 39, Fingers probably had at least one more season left in the tank. But once he was told there would be no exception made for his famed handlebar mustache, he opted for retirement rather than shaving.

"The mustache is my trademark, and it has been for 15 years," Fingers said. "I am not about to shave it off just to play baseball.''

9. Becoming just the second reliever inducted into the Hall of Fame
1992

Seven years after pitching in his final Major League game, Fingers and Tom Seaver were the two players elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1992. Fingers joined Wilhelm as only the relief pitchers in the Hall of Fame. The number of relievers inducted is now up to eight, with Goose Gossage, Bruce Sutter, Dennis Eckersley, Lee Smith, Trevor Hoffman, and Mariano Rivera also having been inducted.

10. Becoming the second A’s player to get his number retired
1993

Two years after Catfish Hunter became the first former A’s player to get his jersey number retired by the club, Fingers received the honor of getting his No. 34 retired. To this day, the A’s have only retired the numbers of five former players, including Reggie Jackson, Dennis Eckersley and Rickey Henderson. The Brewers also retired Fingers' number in 1992.