Today's blog is about the pitcher who holds the record for the best single-season winning percentage in baseball history. He is known to some as Elroy.
It was October of 1959. Pirates fans everywhere were disappointed at their team for not winning the pennant and only going 78-76. There was, however, one bright spot during that year for Bucs fans: Roy Face! Who is Roy Face, you ask? Only the pitcher with the highest single-season winning percentage ever! That year, he went 18-1 with a 2.70 ERA. His winning percentage that year was .947, the best of all time (like I said before). Sadly for Roy, his great year didn't earn him an MVP (he finished 8th) or Cy Young Award (he got zero votes).
Face didn't have the greatest of careers though, only going 104-95 in 16 years with a 3.48 ERA and a .523 winning percentage. However, he went 18-1 in 1959 AS A RELIEVER!!! That's how bad of a pitching rotation the Pirates had in 1959. He was the first modern closer in MLB history, and became the first pitcher to save more than 20 games in multiple seasons. He ended his career with 193 saves. It just goes to show that you can be a reliever and still make an impact on your team's wins and losses.
Shout-out to my friend Coach Moore for giving me the idea to write about Face. Thanks for reading!
Roy to the world Very appropriate for the season Enjoyed your post very much.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary.
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