Great players I watched when growing up

Frank Howard has passed away.
A literal giant in baseball.
www.mlb.com

Frank Howard, larger-than-life slugger, dies at 87

WASHINGTON -- Frank Howard, a hugely popular giant of a man who singlehandedly elevated Washington baseball from the mid-1960s to the early 1970s, has died, the Nationals announced on Monday. He was 87. Though Howard never guided the Washington Senators to the postseason, he was an All-Star four...
www.mlb.com www.mlb.com
 
I remember Frank Howard hitting a long HR for the Dodgers in the 4th game of the 1963 World Series to help them beat the Yankees. Sixty years ago.

I recall a long HR by him in the 1969 All Star Game. Both I saw on TV. With Frank Howard the home runs were always long.
 
He wasn't a superstar and may not even qualify as great, but Elroy Face has passed just a few days short of his 98th birthday. Face set the MLB record for career wins by a reliever with 104 (which was eventually passed by Hoyt Wilhelm and now stands at 124) and the NL mark for wins in a season by a relief pitcher when he went a remarkable 18-1 in 1959 for the Pirates, who went 76-74 that season. He was a premier closer in the 1950s and '60s.

Face had a modest 191 career saves but he pitched at a time when relievers, including closers, often pitched more than an inning, sometimes several, which is why he won a lot of games. He played 16 years and pitched in 848 games. RIP

1-Elroy Face.jpg
 
I remember Elroy Face. He was a famous player in 1959-60 when he went 18-1 in 1959 and the Pirates won the NL Pennant and beat the Yankees in an exciting World Series in 1960.

I saw him in person at a Pirates-Reds game at Crosley Field in 1968. Face relieved Bob Veale but blew the save. The Pirates won in the 12th inning.
 
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