Best Facial Hair in Bay Area Baseball History

While facial hair has been a great topic of discussion around and about the game of baseball lately—especially in the Bay Area—San Francisco Giants closer Brian Wilson is just the latest in a long line of facial hair forefathers that have added an eccentric touch to the national pastime.

Here are the best examples of facial hair in Bay Area baseball history ...

Rollie Fingers, Oakland A's

Fingers gave us the curly-que mustache, and wasn't only famous for his facial hair. Fingers was a key component to the Oakland A's championship dynasty of the 1970s, as he helped Oakland win three consecutive World Series titles from 1972-1974.

While with Oakland, Fingers went 67-61 with a 2.91 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP, making the curly mustache a famous omen of offensive futility for hitters opposing the Athletics.

Rod Beck, San Francisco Giants

Ah, the handle-bar mustache.

Rod Beck made that look a terrifying one while he was a member of the San Francisco Giants from 1991-1997. Over that span "Shooter" posted a 2.97 ERA and collected 199 saves.

Goose Gossage, San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's

Richard Michael "Goose" Gossage had a fantastic 22-year baseball career in which he played for several teams, including both the San Francisco Giants and Oakland A's.

With the Giants in 1989, and with the A's from 1992-1993, Gossage brought his famous facial hair and dominant fastball to the two Bay Area teams along his route to a Hall of Fame induction in 2008.

Brian Wilson, San Francisco Giants

Brian Wilson has not only accepted the torch that was passed from Bay Area predecessors in baseball facial hair, he's taken it to a whole new level.

His is a facial hair that has been etched in baseball legend and lore. Indeed, "The Beard" has taken on a life of its own.

But behind every successful beard is a great ballplayer, and Wilson has certainly shown that he is one. In addition to posting an ERA of 0.00 in the 2010 postseason, as his San Francisco Giants won the World Series for the first time since 1954, Wilson led the majors with 48 saves in 2010 and has become one of the premier closers in the game.