Roy Face – Baseball Player Biography, Career, Net Worth Information

When Roy Face stepped off the mound for the last time in 1969, he left a mark that honestly changed the way people thought about relief pitching. The 5-foot-8 righty from Stephentown, New York, spent 16 seasons showing everyone what a closer could be, becoming the first to save 20 games in multiple seasons and setting records that took decades to break.

Face finished his career with 193 saves and a 104-95 record, but his influence went way beyond stats. He basically invented the modern closer role and became the National League’s greatest reliever until the late 1960s. His wild 1959 season—18-1, a .947 winning percentage—still stands out as one of the most dominant relief performances in the sport.

Face started out as a converted starter who picked up the forkball in the minors. He went on to save three games in the 1960 World Series championship. His story, from tough beginnings to becoming “the Baron of the Bullpen,” shows how grit and a little innovation can not only change a player’s career, but also reshape a whole position in baseball.

Roy Face’s Early Life and Path to Professional Baseball

Elroy Leon Face was born February 20, 1928, in Stephentown, New York. He took a pretty unusual path to baseball fame, including military service and bouncing between teams before he finally landed in the majors.

He grew up in a small town near the Massachusetts border. Getting to the Pittsburgh Pirates meant a bunch of stops with different organizations, and honestly, his persistence was a big part of what made his career so groundbreaking.

Childhood in Stephentown, New York

Roy Face spent his early years in Stephentown, a quiet spot just east of Albany and not far from Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The rural backdrop gave him a pretty low-key childhood.

Even though he was never a big guy—he topped out at 5’8″ and hovered around 155 to 160 pounds—Face showed promise as an athlete. That size didn’t exactly scream “future baseball star,” but he didn’t let it slow him down.

His family background, humble as it was, helped instill a work ethic that stuck with him. That drive really came in handy once he started chasing a pro baseball career.

High School Baseball Achievements

Face went to Averill Park High School, where he started to hone his baseball skills. The school gave him a solid base for what was coming.

Scouts noticed him, even though he wasn’t exactly towering over anyone. His pitching started to stand out in those years.

Eventually, his high school days ended when he decided to join the military before going after pro baseball. That was a pretty gutsy call.

Military Service and Early Athletic Development

Right after high school, Face enlisted in the U.S. Army. He served from February 1946 to July 1947, which delayed his shot at pro baseball by more than a year.

The Army experience toughened him up, both physically and mentally. That discipline really set him up for the grind of professional sports.

When he finished his service at 19, Face finally got serious about baseball. Starting late meant he had to hustle even harder to make it to the majors.

Signing as an Amateur and Minor League Career

The Philadelphia Phillies signed Face as an amateur free agent in 1949 when he was 20. They sent him to Class D ball with the Bradford Blue Wings in the PONY League.

Face’s debut was strong—he went 14-2 with a league-best .875 winning percentage for the Blue Wings, who won the championship. Still, the Phillies didn’t promote him.

In his second season with Bradford, Face got even better. He led the league with a 2.58 ERA and posted an 18-5 record. The Phillies left him exposed in the winter draft, which turned out to be a big mistake.

The Brooklyn Dodgers picked him up in December 1950, thanks to Branch Rickey. Face moved up to Pueblo in the Class A Western League, jumping three levels in a year. That probably stung for Philadelphia.

Face kept improving with Pueblo and later with Fort Worth in the Double A Texas League. His progress caught Branch Rickey’s eye, and when Rickey moved to Pittsburgh, he brought Face over.

In December 1952, Rickey drafted Face for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Face made his major league debut on April 16, 1953, officially making it from small-town New York to the big leagues.

Major League Debut and Early Years

Roy Face’s arrival in Major League Baseball kicked off a career that would totally reshape relief pitching. He struggled as a starter at first, but eventually found his groove as a right-handed relief pitcher with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Joining the Pittsburgh Pirates

Face debuted in the Major Leagues on April 16, 1953, with the Pirates at age 25. The Pirates got him through Branch Rickey’s draft system after Rickey jumped ship from Brooklyn.

In his rookie season, Face pitched in 41 games for the Pirates. He started 13 times and came out of the bullpen in 28 others. His 6.58 ERA that year wasn’t exactly what you’d call impressive.

He was just 5’7½” and weighed about 150 pounds, which made him an unlikely MLB success story. Back then, he mostly relied on his fastball and curveball.

Initial Struggles and Role Transition

Face hit some bumps early on, and the Pirates decided to send him to the New Orleans Pelicans in Double A for 1954. That move ended up changing everything.

Manager Danny Murtaugh taught him the forkball, a pitch that became Face’s bread and butter. Murtaugh also made the call to use Face only as a reliever from then on.

Face picked up the forkball after watching Yankees reliever Joe Page. He figured out the pitch on his own while in New Orleans, and it totally changed his approach.

Return to MLB After Minor League Stints

Face came back to the Pirates in 1955 with a new set of tools. He pitched in 42 games, starting some and relieving in others. His ERA dropped to 3.58, which was a huge step up.

By 1956, Face had found his niche as a reliever. He set a Pirates record with 68 appearances, leading the National League. Only three of those games were starts.

In 1957, he started his last game ever. Face saved 10 games that season, finishing fifth in the National League. The guy who once struggled as a starter had become a top relief specialist, and he helped define what a closer could be.

Pioneering the Role of the Relief Pitcher and Closer

Roy Face made the leap from struggling starter to baseball’s first real closer, showing everyone how valuable specialized relief pitching could be. He mastered the forkball and set a new standard for late-game pitching.

Evolution from Spot Starter to Bullpen Specialist

Face started out in 1953 as a pitcher who did a little of everything, starting 13 games out of 41 that rookie season. His 6.58 ERA wasn’t great.

Things changed in 1954 when Danny Murtaugh, managing Pittsburgh’s New Orleans affiliate, decided Face should focus only on relief work. Murtaugh pulled him from his second start and never let him start again.

That decision changed everything. Face tied the major league record by pitching in nine straight games from September 3-13, 1956, including five games in just four days. His durability was almost legendary—he only landed on the disabled list once in his whole career.

By 1956, Face led the National League with 68 appearances, and just three were starts. He posted double-digit save totals in nearly every season from 1957 to 1968, showing a level of consistency that earlier relievers just didn’t have.

Face’s transformation showed teams that maybe relievers weren’t just failed starters after all. He proved that a pitcher could specialize in relief and be even more valuable.

Introduction of the Forkball Pitch

Face’s career took off when he picked up the forkball during his 1954 minor league stint. He got the idea after watching Yankees reliever Joe Page, but he figured out how to throw it on his own.

The forkball became Face’s signature. He gripped the ball between his index and middle fingers, making it tumble toward the plate with barely any spin. Sometimes it dropped, sometimes it broke to the side.

“I don’t, but neither does the batter,” Face joked when people asked if he knew which way his forkball would break. That unpredictability made him a nightmare for hitters during his best years.

Face didn’t depend on the forkball every single pitch. When it was working, he used it about 70 percent of the time. If it wasn’t, he’d cut back to 20 percent and mix in his other pitches.

Rob Neyer, a baseball analyst, called Face’s forkball the best ever. That pitch helped him put together his amazing 1959 season—18-1 with a .947 winning percentage.

Establishing the Modern Closer Archetype

Face earned the nickname “the Baron of the Bullpen” by setting the standard for modern closers. He wasn’t big—5’8″ and 155 pounds—but he didn’t let that stop him from dominating.

His 1959 season set a new bar for relief pitching. He won 18 games and lost just one, setting the highest single-season winning percentage ever. He made the All-Star team three years in a row from 1959 to 1961.

Face led the majors in saves from 1962-1963 until Hoyt Wilhelm passed him. From 1956-1968, he pitched in more relief games (717) and had more saves (183) than anyone else.

He showed that consistency and durability were key for closers. Face led the National League in saves three times and appearances twice, proving that a dominant reliever could anchor a whole pitching staff.

He even taught future stars like Lindy McDaniel how to throw the forkball. Face’s career proved that closers needed more than just a big arm—they needed to show up, year after year.

Career Highlights and Notable Achievements

Roy Face made his name as one of baseball’s first great relief pitchers, especially thanks to his insane 1959 season and years of steady performance through the ’50s and ’60s. He racked up three All-Star selections, 193 saves, and a World Series championship with the Pirates in 1960.

Record-Setting 1959 Season

Face’s 1959 season is still one of the best ever for a reliever. He went 18-1 with a .947 winning percentage, which is the highest mark in MLB history.

His only loss that year broke a 17-game winning streak. Even crazier, it was his first defeat in 99 appearances going back to early 1958, giving him a 22-game winning streak over two seasons.

He did all that while pitching in 57 games, every single one in relief. Since 1901, only three other pitchers have posted a .900 or better winning percentage in a season with at least 15 wins.

That year, Face made his first All-Star team. His record-setting season helped show just how much a dominant closer could mean to a team.

League Leaderships and All-Star Selections

Face led the National League in saves three times, starting in 1958. He also led the league in pitching appearances twice, including 68 games in 1956.

He earned three straight All-Star selections: 1959, 1960, and 1961. From 1957 to 1968, Face posted double-digit save totals almost every year, which is honestly pretty wild.

From 1956 through 1968, Face pitched in more relief games than anyone—717 appearances. He also led the majors in saves during that stretch with 183.

He held the all-time saves record from 1962 to 1963 until Hoyt Wilhelm passed him. Face also led in career games finished from 1961 to 1964, really locking in his place as baseball’s first true closer.

World Series Champion and Postseason Performance

Face played a huge part in the Pirates’ 1960 World Series win, which was their first in 33 years. He notched three saves against the New York Yankees as Pittsburgh grabbed the franchise’s third championship.

During the 1960 regular season, Face led the National League in appearances with 68 games. He put up a 2.90 ERA over 114.2 innings and saved 24 games for the pennant-winning Pirates.

His postseason pitching really helped the Pirates secure that wild seven-game victory over the heavily favored Yankees. Face kept leads safe in crucial moments, and honestly, the team leaned on him during that championship run.

That World Series win stands as the peak of Face’s career with the Pirates. His clutch pitching in high-pressure spots showed off the closer role he helped invent during the late ‘50s and early ‘60s.

Awards and Industry Recognition

In 1962, The Sporting News gave Face the “NL Fireman of the Year” award, calling him the league’s top relief pitcher. That honor spotlighted his dominance even after his record-setting 1959 season.

Face finished his career with 104 wins and 95 losses in 848 games over 16 seasons. He racked up 193 saves, which was a big number back when relief pitching was still finding its way.

In 1987, Face reached a peak of 19 percent in Hall of Fame voting. That was the highest Cooperstown support for any reliever of his era except Hoyt Wilhelm, who made it in 1985.

Face’s work as a closer influenced so many relief pitchers who came after him. His durability, steady performance, and knack for getting outs basically set the mold for modern bullpen aces, and people still call him one of baseball’s most important innovators.

Later Career and Retirement in 1969

Roy Face spent his final years in Major League Baseball moving from his longtime Pittsburgh Pirates to short stints with Detroit and Montreal, wrapping up his 17-year career in 1969. Leaving Pittsburgh ended an era, but he still pitched as a veteran reliever in his last seasons.

Transition to Detroit Tigers and Montreal Expos

Face left Pittsburgh in November 1967 when the Pirates traded him to the Detroit Tigers. That was a big change for a guy who’d spent 15 seasons in Pittsburgh.

Detroit Tigers (1968)

Face barely pitched for Detroit. He made just two appearances in 1968, throwing only one inning without allowing any runs. Even though the Tigers reached the 1968 World Series, they left Face off the roster.

Detroit released him in early April 1969. Honestly, his short time there pretty much signaled the end of his big league days.

Montreal Expos (1969)

Face signed with the expansion Montreal Expos as a free agent in late April 1969. This gave him one last shot to pitch in the majors.

He appeared in 44 games for Montreal that season. Face earned five saves for the new franchise before they released him in mid-August, which closed the book on his major league career.

Final Season in Major League Baseball

The 1969 season mattered for another reason: it was the first year baseball officially tracked saves. Face finished his career just as the stat that defined him became part of the record books.

Face’s final major league statistics show 104 wins and 95 losses across 848 games. He collected 193 saves and 877 strikeouts, with a 3.48 ERA over his career.

Even with Montreal, Face still managed to be effective, especially for his age. Those five saves helped settle the bullpen for the expansion Expos.

Face retired right as baseball was changing. Relief pitching was getting more specialized, and younger arms were starting to fill the roles Face had helped create.

Post-MLB Minor League Activity

After Montreal released him in August 1969, Face’s professional baseball journey ended. He was 41 and had pitched 17 seasons in the majors.

Face’s career totals put him among the top relievers of his era. He led the National League in saves three times and in appearances twice during his best years with Pittsburgh.

Even after retirement, Face still influenced the closer role. His success set the standard for future relief specialists in Major League Baseball.

Face leaving the game marked the end of an era for relief pitching. He really helped define what it meant to be a closer in the ‘50s and ‘60s, making way for the next wave of relief specialists.

Legacy, Influence, and Comparisons

Roy Face changed how teams used relief pitchers and basically created the modern closer blueprint. His achievements became benchmarks in National League history, and relievers for decades looked up to what he did.

Influence on Future Closers and Relievers

Face pioneered the modern closer role before people even called it that. He specialized in finishing games, and that became the go-to model for relief pitching. He was the first pitcher to save 20 games more than once, doing it three times back when most teams barely used relievers in that way.

His forkball influenced a ton of pitchers who followed. That pitch became a go-to weapon for many relievers trying to copy Face’s success. Bruce Sutter later took a similar split-finger fastball and dominated hitters in the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Face’s style showed teams why a dedicated closer mattered. His success in tight spots proved relief specialists could be just as valuable as starters. That thinking ended up at the heart of modern baseball strategy.

Kent Tekulve, who broke Face’s National League appearance record in 1986, credited Face for making relief pitching a respected job. The Pirates kept that tradition alive with effective closers in the years that followed.

Comparisons with Contemporary Relief Pitchers

Face went toe-to-toe with Hoyt Wilhelm, who owned a lot of major league relief records at the same time. Wilhelm pitched longer and piled up more saves, but Face dominated National League relief pitching for over a decade. Both guys used specialty pitches—Wilhelm’s knuckleball and Face’s forkball—to keep hitters guessing.

Stu Miller was another big National League closer during Face’s best years. Miller led the league in saves twice in the ‘60s but couldn’t match Face’s consistency or longevity. Face’s 28 saves in 1962 set a new National League record that lasted until relievers like Tug McGraw and Dave Giusti showed up in the ‘70s.

Face’s 18 relief wins in 1959 is still a major league record, and honestly, it might never be broken. Modern closers just don’t get into enough games to win that many. His .947 winning percentage that season even beat out legendary starters.

Contemporary pitchers respected Face’s control and competitive fire. Stars like Ted Williams even praised Face’s effectiveness, despite his smaller build.

Recognition Within Baseball History

Face set records in the National League that stuck around for decades after he retired. Baseball-Reference points out that he led the National League with 193 career saves until 1982.

He also held the league record with 846 appearances, but Tekulve eventually broke that in 1986.

SABR research puts a spotlight on Face’s impact on baseball strategy. Managers started to believe that specialized relievers could outshine tired starters, and Face basically convinced them of that with his success.

This change totally shifted how teams built their pitching staffs.

Face did more than just rack up stats, though. He brought a new kind of thinking to the game. While guys like Walter Johnson relied on power, Face thrived on precision and a bit of trickery.

He showed everyone that smaller pitchers could win by being smart and crafty—not just by throwing heat.

Modern closers like Trevor Hoffman owe a lot to the path Face paved. The Pirates honored him by retiring his number and putting him in their Hall of Fame, which feels pretty fitting.

Retrosheet data backs up just how much Face influenced Pittsburgh’s championship runs.

When the 1960 World Series rolled around, Face showed everyone what a relief specialist could do on the biggest stage. His three saves in that series kind of set the standard for how teams use closers in playoff baseball now.

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