A Player remembered (Elroy Face 1969)

Elroy spent his last season in the big leagues with the Expos. The Expos signed him after he was released at the start of the 69′ season by the Detroit Tigers. Was known as one of the best relief pitchers of his era. From May of 1958 until September of 1959, he made 92 trips in from the bullpen in between losses while winning 22 straight decisions including his unprecedented 18-1 record in relief in 1959 for a .947 winning percentage. His forkball was to the NL what Hoyt Wilhelm’s knuckler was to the American League. They couldn’t hit Hoyt’s knuckler and in the NL Elroy’s forkball was devasting. In the pennant winning season for the 1960 Pirates he had 10 wins and 24 saves. In the World Series aganist the mighty New York Yankees he had three saves. Led the NL in saves three times (1958,1962 and 1962). Started his Expos career with 2 wins and 1 save in his first seven apperances. The season for Elroy was like a rollercoaster ride, many ups and downs. Started off the season giving up no runs in his first six apperances and then over his next five games gave up ten earned runs. Followed this up with a nice stretch giving up only five runs, winning two and saving two over his next 18 games. On July 6th in the first game of a double header against the Phillies he would have his worst game as an Expos, giving up five runs on seven hits in 1 2/3 innings. The season overall was very solid considering it was an expansion team. Finished with a 4-2 record, 5 saves and a 3.94 ERA at 41 years of age. This gave Elroy a major league mark of 104-95 and 193 saves in 848 games. Even though his time was brief,  just one season, his influence on the younger pitchers was said to have been valuable. Next Monday will take a look at the career of Ellis Valentine.

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