Elroy Face

Elroy Leon "Roy" Face, one of Major League Baseball's most influential relief pitchers and a key figure in the Pittsburgh Pirates' 1960 World Series championship, died February 12, 2026, in North Versailles, Pennsylvania. He was 97.

Born February 20, 1928, in Stephentown, New York, Face first drew attention as a standout athlete at Averill Park High School, where he played baseball, basketball, and football. He left high school in 1946 to serve in the U.S. Army before beginning his professional baseball career.

Face signed with the Philadelphia Phillies as an amateur free agent in 1949 and made his Major League debut with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1953. Known for developing an effective forkball, he quickly became one of baseball's most respected bullpen specialists.

Nicknamed the "Baron of the Bullpen," Face was a pioneer of the modern relief pitcher, long before the closer role was formally defined. Over a 16-season MLB career (1953–1969), primarily with the Pirates, he posted a 104–95 record with a 3.48 ERA across 848 games, including brief stints with the Detroit Tigers and Montreal Expos near the end of his career.

Face's 1959 season remains legendary: He went 18–1 with a 2.70 ERA and finished seventh in National League MVP voting.

In the 1960 World Series, Face saved three games against the New York Yankees, helping the Pirates win one of baseball's most iconic Fall Classics.

Face was a three-time All-Star. In 2023, the Pirates inducted him into the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame in recognition of his impact on the organization and the sport.

He is survived by his three children, Michelle, Valerie, and Elroy Jr., and his sister, Jacqueline.

By Legacy News Staff

(Image: AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)