Fans love Tennessee pitcher ‘Vollie Fingers’

Tennessee reliever Kirby Connell.

It’s Men's College World Series time, and that presents Tennessee Volunteers fans with the opportunity to see their favorite player, Kirby Connell, also known as Vollie Fingers.

The star reliever isn’t just loved for his play on the field, but also his sweet Rollie Fingers-like handlebar mustache.

Connell has always had long hair, and when he went off to college, he simply let is grow out.

“I’ve had long hair since high school, so all the way back to freshman year. And I’ve always had a little bit of a mustache,” Connell told the Knoxville News Sentinel in 2022. “Usually it didn’t get too long because my mom would make me cut it. And then we got to college and I was like, ‘I’m just going to let it grow.'”

It was before the 2021 season that Connell decided to evolve his mustache, which was set into motion following a conversation with fellow relief pitcher Redmond Walsh.

“(He) was like, ‘Hey, I’ll get you some mustache wax if you can start curling it. And so I kind of ended up letting it grow a little bit and it started curling,” Connell said. “Now, I’ve gotten to a point where I don’t really shave the ends as much and try to get as much curl as I possibly can.”

Not only has the stache become a fan favorite, but it’s become meaningful to Connell. He makes sure it’s curled and greased up prior to every game as a matter of superstition.

In six seasons at Tennessee, ole Vollie Fingers has appeared in 124 games, posting a 10-4 record with six saves. He’s struck out 143 over 145.0 innings, compiling a 3.79 ERA and 1.076 WHIP.

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