Roy Face, baseball player, 1953-1969

Roy Face

Born: 2/20/1928 in Stephentown, NY, USA

MLB Debut: 1953-04-16 | Final Game: 1969-08-15

Bats: R | Throws: R | Height: 5'8" | Weight: 155 lbs

Full name: Elroy Leon Face

Biography

Roy Face, born in 1928, was a prominent pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1953 until his retirement in 1969. Known for his exceptional skill on the mound, Face compiled a career record of 104-95 with an earned run average (ERA) of 3.48. He recorded 877 strikeouts and secured 193 saves over his career, showcasing his ability to both start and close games effectively. Face's contributions to the game were recognized with six All-Star selections, affirming his status as one of the leading pitchers of his era. Playing primarily during the 1950s and 1960s, Face emerged as a key figure in the evolving role of relief pitchers, helping to shape the modern bullpen strategy. His effectiveness in high-pressure situations made him a reliable asset for his teams, particularly the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he spent the majority of his career. Face's legacy is marked not only by his impressive statistics but also by his influence on the way pitching was approached in the late 20th century, as the role of the relief pitcher became increasingly vital to team success.

Career Pitching Statistics

W L G GS CG SHO SV IP H ER HR BB SO ERA Pitcher PIV
104 95 848 27 6 0 193 1375.0 1347 531 141 362 877 3.48 0

Season-by-Season Pitching

Career Batting Statistics

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB BB SO AVG OBP SLG OPS PIV
853 194 9 31 3 0 0 7 0 2 47 0.160 0.168 0.175 0.344 0.0

Season-by-Season Batting

Postseason Statistics

Playoff Career Batting

G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
4 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.000

Playoff Batting by Year

Year Round Team G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO AVG
1960 WS PIT 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0.000

Playoff Career Pitching

W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
0 0 4 0 3 10.3 9 6 2 4 5.23

Playoff Pitching by Year

Year Round Team W L G GS SV IP H ER BB SO ERA
1960 WS PIT 0 0 4 0 3 10.3 9 6 2 4 5.23

Fielding Statistics

Career Fielding Totals by Position

Position G GS PO A E DP
P 848 14 104 212 14 15

Season-by-Season Fielding

Career Games by Position

Position Games
Pitcher 848

Awards & Honors

Year Award Notes
1962 TSN Fireman of the Year

Award Voting History

Year Award League Finish Points Won Points Max Votes First
1960 Most Valuable Player NL 12th 47.0 336 0
1959 Most Valuable Player NL 7th 67.0 336 0
1958 Most Valuable Player NL 17th 8.0 336 0