RIP - Elroy Face

 

For the second time in a week, a 1960s' sports hero in their 90's has passed.

 

Elroy Face, a longtime relief pitcher for the Pirates, passed away today, February 12, 2026 at age 97. He was the 3rd-oldest living former player, after Bill Greason (1954) and Bobby Shantz (1949-64), both over 100.  Face died 3 days before his 98th birthday.

 

Face pitched from 1953 to 1969, appearing in 802 games for the Pirates ('53-'68), 2 for the Tigers ('68), and 44 for the Expos ('69). 

 

In 1959, he posted a record of 18-1 in 57 games, all in relief.

 

In the 1960 World Series, Face pitched 10 innings over 4 games, picking up 3 saves.

MLB obituary  

 

Sports Illustrated obituary 

   

Seasoned Veterans

 

Here are the 9 oldest living players who saw action after the 1965 season. They are all over age 90, with Elroy Face leading the pack at 95. 

 

Many of them retired after the 1966 or 1967 season, but Willie Mays played through the 1973 season (including the World Series).

How old are these guys? 

- Willie Mays played in the Negro Leagues in 1948. 

- Ray Herbert and Vern Law made their MLB debut in 1950. 

- Al Worthington and Willie Mays played for the New York Giants. 

- Dick Groat played NBA basketball with the Fort Wayne Pistons in 1952. 

 

Elroy Face is 95

 

How about some good news for a change? Yesterday was Elroy Face's 95th birthday!

Face pitched from 1953 to 1969, appearing in 802 games for the Pirates ('53-'68), 2 for the Tigers ('68), and 44 for the Expos ('69). 

 

Last week, I was at a local antique store, and in one showcase there were a lot of sports items, including 3 baseballs autographed (separately) by Face, Dick Hall, and Dick Groat. Coincidentally, they are each over 90 years old, and all played for the Pirates during their career. (I am not near Pittsburgh.) 

 

The Face ball was a steal at $25, while the other two were over $50, if I recall correctly. I just may go back and get that Elroy Face ball. He is currently the oldest living player who was still playing after 1966. 

  

Oldest living players from 1966-70

With the recent passing of long-time Cardinal Red Schoendienst, it was said that he was the oldest living member of the Hall of Fame. Bringing that idea closer to this blogosphere, I wondered “Who are the oldest living players with baseball cards in the Topps sets that I am following?”

Pirates’ reliever Elroy Face is at the top of the list for the 1966-69 sets, at age 90. One would think Willie Mays (at age 87) is up there too, but there are 13 living players older than Mays in the 1966 set. That number drops off to 7 in the 1967 set, as 6 players had their final card in the ’66 set.

In the ’68 set, only 3 players are older than Mays. In the 1969 and 1970 sets, there is only one player older than Mays – Face (’69) and Hall (’70). (Roy Face’s final card was in 1969. Dick Hall was not in the ’66 or ‘69 sets, but was in the ’67, ’68, and ‘70 sets.)


Here are the 5 oldest living players per set that I follow:

1966 
Elroy Face
Whitey Ford
Don Mossi
Al Worthington
Curt Simmons

1967 
Elroy Face
Whitey Ford
Al Worthington
Curt Simmons
Vern Law (10th in the ’66 set)

1968 
Elroy Face
Al Worthington
Dick Hall (6th in the ’67 set)
Willie Mays
Maury Wills

1969 
Elroy Face
Willie Mays
Maury Wills
Al Spangler
Camilo Pascual

1970 
Dick Hall
Willie Mays
Maury Wills
Al Spangler
Camilo Pascual