Elroy Face, a star pitcher for the 1960 World Series champion Pittsburgh Pirates, died Thursday at age 97, the team announced.
Face, who lived in North Versailles, would have turned 98 on Feb. 20.
Face, who went 18-1 in 1959, is the Pirates’ all-time leader in pitching appearances (802), recording 188 saves before that was an official statistic. He was a three-time All-Star and a member of the Pirates Hall of Fame.
“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,” Pirates owner Bob Nutting said in a statement. “I was fortunate to get to know Elroy personally, and I will always be proud that we had the chance to honor him with his induction into the Pirates Hall of Fame.
“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, leading the league in appearances and recording three saves against the Yankees.
“Our thoughts are with his three children — Michelle, Valerie and Elroy Jr. — and his sister Jacqueline.”
This story will be updated.