Former pitcher Elroy Face died Thursday. The Pirates made the announcement after being contacted by his boy, Elroy Jr. Face was 97, a few days away from turning 98.

“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,” team chairman Bob Nutting said in a statement.

“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.”

ESPN.com

My thoughts go out to his family and friends. I’m glad he lived a long life.

Face found success late in his career, becoming a full-time major league pitcher at seasonal age 27 and having his best season at age 31. In that 1959 season, he accumulated an18-1 record with a 2.70 ERA, all in relief. In his 93 1/3 innings, he struck out 69 batters and allowed just five home runs. He finished 7th in the MVP voting.