History / Inspiration
The Day of the Dead is an ancient tradition for people to make offerings in memory of their loved ones. In that spirit, we offer a traditional sugar skull design with Oakland flavor — proudly sporting the iconic mustache of Rollie Fingers, one of the greatest relief pitchers of all time.
During his 8-year stint as a relief pitcher for the A's, Fingers grew the mustache in a bid to win a $300 bonus from the team's owner, Charles Finley. Finley had offered the extra cash to the player who could grow the most majestic facial hair by opening day. Fingers won, and his lovingly waxed, Snidely Whiplash-style 'stache was such a sensation that the ballpark started holding "mustache days," where anyone with similar facial hair could get into the game for free. Fingers was so devoted to his look that, later in his career, he even turned down a contract that would have required him to shave.
This tee is our offering to Fingers, the A's, and everyone with the flair and dedication it takes to be a real closer.
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About the designer
John Sherlock Hersey is considered one of the founders of digital illustration and is a professor of illustration at California College of the Arts in Oakland. See more of his work at: Hersey.com