Overview
- The Pirates announced his death Thursday, with chairman Bob Nutting calling him the 'Baron of the Bullpen' and a pioneer of modern relief pitching.
- The club said his son, Elroy Jr., informed officials of his passing at a senior living facility in North Versailles, Pennsylvania.
- Face saved three games in the Pirates’ 1960 World Series win over the Yankees, defining his status as an early late-inning specialist.
- Across 16 MLB seasons with Pittsburgh, Detroit and Montreal, he went 104-95 with a 3.48 ERA in 848 appearances and 191 career saves, a statistic not officially recognized until 1969.
- He remains the Pirates’ all-time leader in pitching appearances (802) and holds relief records including 96 National League wins in relief and an 18-1 relief season in 1959; he entered the Pirates Hall of Fame in 2023 and is survived by three children and a sister.