He grew up in Stephentown, went off to serve in the U.S. Army, returned home and started pitching for a baseball team in New Lebanon. A pro scout vacationing in the area heard about the young man who struck out nearly everyone he faced, so he came to watch. The scout was quite impressed and signed young Elroy to a major league contract. The rest, as they say, is history.
Elroy Face went on to establish a pro career, mostly as a relief pitcher, and earned nationwide fame in 1960 when he saved three games for the Pittsburgh Pirates, as they went on to defeat the mighty New York Yankees in the World Series that year, a feat no one expected them to accomplish. Face became the master of the fork ball, so much so, that even baseball’s home run king Hank Aaron told people he hated to try to hit Face and “that forkball.”
This past Saturday, October 28, the Berlin Central School District honored Elroy Face by naming the athletic park next to the former Stephentown Elementary School after him. At age 89 Elroy Face did not feel up to traveling from the Pittsburgh area back to his hometown, so the ceremony took place in the Stephentown Fire Hall, with Face appearing through a video hookup. When he came on line, his niece, Anita Brothers, also a Stephentown native, was there to greet her “favorite uncle.” School Board President Frank Zwack and Superintendent Dr. Stephen Young joined Brothers in the presentation of a plaque that will be erected at the site. Face told those gathered in the Hall, “he was honored, and that he never thought that as a little kid growing up in Stephentown, he would ever end up where he did in life.” Stephentown Town Supervisor Larry Eckhardt described Face as a “hometown man whose fame as a world class athlete has inspired Stephentown residents, young and old, to be the best they can be at whatever they endeavor. Elroy has proven that growing up in a small town is no barrier to achieving big effects in your life and for your vocation.” He turned to Face and said “we are thrilled to have this field named in your honor for your achievements. Congratulations.”
The new Elroy Face Athletic Park contains a basketball court, soccer field, and of course, a baseball field. Face spent most of his time in baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates before finishing his career with the Detroit Tigers and the former Montreal Expos.