Elroy Face, one of the most distinctive and durable relievers in Major League Baseball history, has passed away at the age of 97. A cornerstone of the Pittsburgh Pirates' bullpen for nearly two decades, Face left behind a legacy that helped redefine what it meant to be a relief pitcher in the modern era.
Face spent 15 of his 16 big league seasons in Pittsburgh, becoming a franchise icon and earning the nickname “The Baron of the Bullpen.” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting reflected on Face’s passing with heartfelt words, calling him “a pioneer of the modern relief pitcher” and praising his critical role in the team’s 1960 World Series championship. That October, Face led the league in appearances and notched three key saves against a loaded Yankees squad featuring Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, and Whitey Ford.
Born in upstate New York, Face began his professional journey in 1949 with the Phillies organization. The 5-foot-8 right-hander, known for his sidearm delivery and devastating forkball, caught the eye of Hall of Fame executive Branch Rickey. Rickey brought Face into the Dodgers’ system before eventually acquiring him again when he moved to the Pirates' front office in the early 1950s.
Face’s early years in the majors were rocky - his rookie stint didn’t stick, and he was sent back to Double-A in 1954. But by 1955, he was back in the bigs, and by 1956, he had found his niche in the bullpen. That year, he led the majors with 68 appearances, logging 135 1/3 innings with a 3.52 ERA - a heavy workload that would be unheard of for a reliever today.
At a time when the concept of a "closer" was still in its infancy, Face was already doing the job. He led the National League in games finished in four of five seasons from 1958 to 1962. Though the save wasn’t an official stat until 1969, Face was retroactively credited with leading the NL in saves three times - including a then-MLB-best 20 in 1958 and 28 in 1962.
His 1962 campaign was arguably his finest: a 1.88 ERA over 91 innings, with 28 saves and a spot on the All-Star roster. In fact, Face was an All-Star each year from 1959 to 1961, during a stretch when MLB held two All-Star Games per season. He also received MVP votes in each of those three seasons - a rare feat for a reliever, especially in that era.
And then there was 1959, the season that still boggles the mind: an 18-1 record out of the bullpen. That’s not a typo.
Eighteen wins - all in relief - against just one loss. It’s a number that speaks not just to his effectiveness, but to how frequently he was trusted in tight, late-game situations.
But it was 1960 that cemented Face’s place in baseball lore. He pitched 114 2/3 innings with a 2.90 ERA and finished 61 games for a Pirates team that went 95-59-1 and won the National League pennant.
In the World Series, he saved Games 1, 4, and 5, and pitched three innings of Game 7 - though he gave up a go-ahead homer to Yogi Berra in that one. Still, the Pirates rallied, and Bill Mazeroski’s iconic walk-off sealed one of the most dramatic championships in baseball history.
It remains the only Game 7 walk-off home run ever hit in the World Series.
Face never returned to the postseason, but he remained a force in Pittsburgh’s bullpen throughout the 1960s. Even into his mid-to-late 30s, he continued to post sub-3.00 ERAs, showing remarkable consistency and longevity. He wrapped up his career with brief stints in Detroit and Montreal, where he added a few more saves to his total before retiring.
When you look at the Pirates’ record books, Face’s name is still all over them. He holds the franchise marks for pitching appearances (802), games finished (547), and saves (186).
He logged nearly 1,400 innings with a 3.48 ERA and 877 strikeouts. His final career win total?
104 - an incredible number for a reliever, especially in an era before bullpen usage was as specialized as it is today.
Three years ago, the Pirates formally honored Face by inducting him into their Hall of Fame - a fitting tribute to a player who helped define an entire role on the pitching staff. His contributions to the game, and especially to the Pirates organization, are etched in the fabric of baseball history.
Elroy Face is survived by his three children - Michelle, Valerie, and Elroy Jr. - and his sister Jacqueline. His impact on the game will be remembered for generations, not just in Pittsburgh, but throughout the sport.