The relief hurler who won 18 games and saved another ten for the 1959 Pittsburgh Pirates, died February 12 at the age of 97.
Here’s his obituary from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and The New York Times by Richard Goldstein.
ElRoy Face got a relatively late start: he made his debut as a 25-year-old in 1953. After spending the next season in the minors, he came to stay in 1955.
He spent the majority of his 16 Major League campaigns with the Pirates — where he was a member of the surprise World Series-winning team — leading the NL in saves three times. His 18-1 record boasts the highest winning percentage of any pitcher without a 1.000 mark.
Face was sold to the Detroit Tigers late in 1968, appearing in just two games during their championship year. Funny that his obit on MLuve, a Michigan website, identifies him in their headline, as the “oldest living Tiger and bullpen pioneer….”
He wound up his career with the Montreal Expos in their 1969 debut, pitching quite effectively, appearing in 44 games with a 4-2 record and five saves at the age of 44. Face ended his tenure with a mark of 104-95 with a 3.48 ERA. His 848 appearances puts him in the top 50 among pitchers.
By the way, that Sports Illustrated edition is listed on Amazon for more than $200. Look for other Face memorabilia to increase in cost.
