ElRoy Face
From BR Bullpen
Elroy Leon Face (Baron of the Bullpen)
- Bats Right, Throws Right
- Height 5' 8", Weight 155 lb.
- Debut April 16, 1953
- Final Game August 15, 1969
- Born February 20, 1928 in Stephentown, NY USA
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[edit] Biographical Information
When Roy Face signed as an amateuer free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies before the 1949 season he probably did not think he would still be pitching 22 years later. The Phillies assigned the right-hander to the Bradford Blue Wings of the class D PONY League and he wasted no time making himself known when he won 14 and lost 2 with a 3.32 ERA his first year out. They kept him there in 1950 and he turned it up a notch to 18-5 for a .783 pct. and a 2.58 ERA. Both his percentage and ERA would lead the league and put him on the All-Star team.
This display would get Roy drafted by the Brooklyn Dodgers from the Phillies on December 4, 1950 in the minor league draft. Brooklyn sent him to the Pueblo Dodgers in 1951 and Face won 23 and lost 9 with a 2.78 ERA. Elroy's 23 wins led the Western League and he again was picked for the All-Star team. The Dodgers moved him up to the AA Fort Worth Cats of the Texas League in 1952 where he went 14-11 with a 2.83 ERA and the Pittsburgh Pirates drafted him from Brooklyn in the 1952 rule V draft.
Roy was introduced to Forbes Field in 1953 and had for him a mediocre season, going 6-8 in 41 appearances for a 6.58 ERA. He was then sent down to the AA New Orleans Pelicans in 1954, winning 12 while losing 11 with a 4.45 ERA which was just enough to get him back to the majors in 1955. Roy would struggle and after a few seasons as a spot starter he was converted into one of the premier relievers of the day. From may of 1958 until September of 1959, he made 92 trips in from the bullpen in between losses while winning 22 straight decisions including his unprecedented 18-1 record in relief in 1959 for a .947 winning percentage.
The little 5'8" 155-pounder with the great forkball, a forerunner to the split-fingered fastball won 10 games and had 24 saves for the 1960 pennant winners, and then had three saves against the Yankees in the World Series. A three time league leader in saves, he topped the National League with 28 in 1962, the year he was named "Fireman of the Year"
Roy continued to build his reputation as the premier National League closer of the 1960s. His forkball was to the NL what Hoyt Wilhelm's knuckler was to the American League. From 1963 to 1968 Face had 68 saves and was considered one of the ten best relievers, according to The Relief Pitcher for being the most dominant reliever of his era.
On August 31, 1968 the Pirates announced the sale of Face to the Detroit Tigers. Following the announcement Roy was brought into one last game for the Pirates to pitch against one batter to give him 802 appearances for Pittsburgh and to tie him for the most games pitched with one team with, Walter Johnson of the Washington Senators. The appearance came in the first inning as starter Steve Blass moved to the outfield for one hitter.
Roy concluded his career the following season when Detroit released him on April 3, 1969. Face chose to sign with the Montreal Expos on April 27, and finished out the year with Montreal, winning 4 and losing 2 with 5 saves and a 3.94 ERA at 41 years of age. This gave Roy a major league career mark of 104-95 and 193 saves in 848 games.
Evidently Roy just did not want to quit pitching baseball. He went back to the minors, with the Hawaii Islanders in 1970, appeared in eight games with no decisions and this did finally conclude his 22 active seasons from 1949 to 1970 in the American Pastime.
A member of the Carpenter's Union from the time he first came to the majors, as of last word, Roy is now retired in North Versailles, Pennsylvania, after working as a carpentry foreman at Mayview State Hospital.
[edit] Notable Achievements
- 3-time NL All-Star (1959-1961)
- NL Reliever of the Year Award Winner (1962)
- NL Winning Percentage Leader (1959)
- 2-time NL Games Pitched Leader (1956 & 1960)
- 3-time NL Saves Leader (1958, 1961 & 1962)
- 15 Wins Seasons: 1 (1959)
- Won a World Series with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1960
[edit] Records Held
- Winning percentage, season (minimum 15 wins), .947, 1959
- Wins, as a reliever, season, 18, 1959
Career Pitching Statistics
| League | W | L | GP | IP | H | R | ER | BB | ERA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minors | 81 | 39 | 172 | 1,043 | 1,007 | 464 | 365 | 330 | 3.41 |
| Majors | 104 | 95 | 848 | 1,375 | 1,347 | 591 | 531 | 362 | 3.48 |
| Total | 185 | 134 | 1,020 | 2,418 | 2,354 | 1,055 | 896 | 692 | 3.45 |
[edit] Sources
Baseball-Reference.com
Baseball Players of the 1950s
SABR MILB Database:page
