Elroy Face, who saved 3 video games in 1960 World Series, dies at 97

PITTSBURGH — Elroy Face, an All-Star reliever for the Pittsburgh Pirates who saved three video games within the 1960 World Series to assist them upset the New York Yankees, has died. He was 97.

In a information launch Thursday, the Pirates introduced they confirmed Face’s demise. Team historian Jim Trdinich mentioned the membership was contacted by Face’s son, Elroy Jr., and knowledgeable the previous pitcher died earlier within the day at an unbiased senior residing facility exterior Pittsburgh in North Versailles, Pennsylvania.

No reason for demise was offered. Face was eight days shy of his 98th birthday.

“It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Pirates Hall of Famer Elroy Face, a beloved member of the Pirates family,” group chairman Bob Nutting mentioned in a press release.

“Elroy was a pioneer of the modern relief pitcher — the ‘Baron of the Bullpen’ — and he played a critical role in our 1960 World Series championship.”

Selected to 6 All-Star groups, Face went 104-95 with a 3.48 ERA in 16 main league seasons with Pittsburgh (1953-68), Detroit (1968) and Montreal (1969). He pitched in 848 video games, beginning solely 27, and compiled 191 profession saves — though saves did not grow to be an official statistic till 1969.

The 5-foot-8 right-hander holds the National League file for wins in reduction with 96 and the key league mark for reduction wins in a single season after going 18-1 with a 2.70 ERA in 1959.

He topped the National League with 68 appearances and 61 video games completed in 1960, when the underdog Pirates shocked Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and the mighty Yankees on Bill Mazeroski’s well-known dwelling run that gained Game 7 of the World Series at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh.

Face made 4 reduction appearances within the World Series, posting a 5.23 ERA in 10⅓ innings. He closed out Pirates wins in Games 1, 4 and 5.

Inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame in 2023, he’s the membership’s profession chief in appearances with 802. And the group famous that if saves had been an official stat earlier than 1969, he additionally would maintain that franchise file with 188.

Face was born in Stephentown, New York, on Feb. 20, 1928. He is survived by his three kids, Michelle, Valerie and Elroy Jr., and his sister Jacqueline, the Pirates mentioned.