Elroy Faith, a significant figure in baseball history as an early slow-inning reliever, passed away on Thursday at 97, as announced by the Pirates.
Affectionately known as the “Baron of the Bullpen,” Faith was a trailblazer, laying the groundwork for what would become the closer position during his 16-year career, primarily with the Pirates.
“It is with deep sadness that we mourn the loss of Elroy Faith, a Hall of Famer and cherished member of the Pirates community,” stated Pirates Chairman Bob Nutting. “I had the good fortune of knowing Elroy personally and will always take pride in having honored him with his induction into the Pirates Hall of Fame,” as noted by MLB.com.
Faith was recognized as a pioneer of modern relief pitching, playing a crucial role in the 1960 World Series championship by leading the league in game appearances and notching three saves against the Yankees.
“Our thoughts are with his three children—Michelle, Valerie, and Elroy Jr.—as well as his sister Jacqueline,” Nutting added.
After facing challenges as a starting pitcher early on, Faith was permanently assigned to the bullpen in the 1956 season and quickly flourished there.
A native of Stephentown, Faith spent 15 seasons with the Pirates, achieving 188 saves—the highest in the team’s history.
He maintained a 3.46 ERA across his tenure with the Pirates and was selected as an All-Star for three consecutive years (1959-61).
Faith was a central figure on the Pirates’ championship team in 1960, which triumphed over the Yankees in a dramatic seven-game series, contributing saves in Games 1, 4, and 5.
His standout year was 1959, when he participated in 57 games with an impressive record of 18-1 and a 2.70 ERA, finishing seventh in the National League MVP voting.
Faith is set to be inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame in 2023 alongside fellow players Bob Friend, Kent Tekulve, and Dick Groat.
Upon the announcement of this induction class, Tekulve highlighted Faith’s lasting influence on the evolution of relief pitching.
“Historically, relief pitchers were often seen as not good enough to start,” Tekulve remarked at the time. “But Elroy Faith changed that perspective, demonstrating that relievers could be vital assets to a team.”
