October Legends Closing November 1
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 11/2/2014
It was during the 1950s when baseball teams began to use certain pitchers strictly as relief specialists, and one of the best was Roy Face of the Pittsburgh Pirates. Face was the first “closer” and was the first pitcher to register 20+ saves in multiple seasons. When he retired, Face held the all time National League record for career games with 848 appearances. His greatest season was 1959, when Face was 18-1, 2.70 ERA with 10 saves, registering all appearances in relief. He still holds the single season winning percentage record of .947 and most wins in a single season as a reliever. This gray road vest was worn by Face during his greatest season. The button down vest has “PIRATES” across the front with his number “26” on the reverse. Both are in black on yellow felt, with light puckering to the numerals. Inside the collar is the “MacGregor 40” manufacturers size tag, which is the style used by MacGregor from 1958-1961. Inside the lower front tail is a small white strip tag with “Set 1 1959” stitched directly to the jersey. The third button from the bottom appears to have been a period replacement, similar in color, but slightly different in style. The jersey exhibits heavy game use with general overall wear commensurate with his workload that season. Face was the National League’s best reliever during the 1950s into the 1960s, with his greatest year the 1959 season, when Face wore this jersey during that record setting year. Full LOA from MEARS, graded A10.