Elroy Face, the Pirates' All-Star reliever key contributor in their 1960 World Series win, dead at 97

Elroy Face, an All-Star reliever who played a cardinal relation successful the Pittsburgh Pirates World Series triumph implicit the New York Yankees successful 1960, has died astatine 97, the squad announced Thursday.

Face was 8 days distant from his 98th birthday. Team historiographer Jim Trdinich said the nine was contacted by Face’s son, Elroy Jr., who told the squad that Face died earlier successful the time astatine an autarkic elder surviving installation extracurricular Pittsburgh successful North Versailles, Pennsylvania. No origin of decease was provided.

"It is with dense hearts and heavy sadness that we mourn the passing of Pirates Hall of Famer Elroy Face, a beloved subordinate of the Pirates family," Pirates squad Chairman Bob Nutting said successful a statement.

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Elroy Face acknowledges the assemblage aft being inducted into the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame Class of 2023 earlier the crippled against the Chicago Cubs astatine PNC Park successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, connected Aug. 26, 2023. (Justin Berl/Getty Images)

"Elroy was a pioneer of the modern alleviation pitcher — the ‘Baron of the Bullpen’ — and helium played a captious relation successful our 1960 World Series championship."

In his 16-year career, Face appeared successful 848 games and had a grounds of 104-95 with a 3.48 ERA. He started conscionable 27 of his appearances and racked up 191 vocation saves – though saves didn’t go an authoritative statistic until 1969.

In 1959, Face went 18-1 with a 2.70 ERA and 10 saves. That was the archetypal of 3 consecutive seasons that helium was named to the All-Star team. He led the National League successful saves 3 times successful his career.

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Pittsburgh Pirates alleviation pitcher Elroy Face follows done aft serving up a ninth-inning transportation against the New York Yankees successful the 5th World Series crippled astatine Yankee Stadium successful New York, New York, connected Oct. 10, 1960. (AP Photo, File)

Face led the National League with 68 appearances and 61 games finished successful 1960, erstwhile the underdog Pirates stunned Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra and the mighty Yankees connected Bill Mazeroski's celebrated location tally that won Game 7 of the World Series astatine Forbes Field successful Pittsburgh.

Face made 4 alleviation appearances successful the Series, posting a 5.23 ERA successful 10 1/3 innings. He closed retired Pirates wins successful Games 1, 4 and 5.

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Former Pittsburgh Pirates alleviation pitcher Elroy Face acknowledges the assemblage during a ceremonial for players who are portion of the team’s Hall of Fame people earlier a shot crippled against the Chicago Cubs successful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, connected Aug. 26, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Freed, File)

Inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame successful 2023, helium is the club's vocation person successful appearances with 802. The squad noted that if saves had been an authoritative stat earlier 1969, helium besides would clasp that franchise grounds with 188.

Face was calved successful Stephentown, New York, connected Feb. 20, 1928. He is survived by his 3 children, Michelle, Valerie and Elroy Jr., and his sister Jacqueline, the Pirates said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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