Roy Face was a legendary relief pitcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1952 to 1967 and was known for his talented control on the mound. Face perfected the craft of pitching in relief and helped revolutionize how modern bullpens are used. His playing career intersected with the birth of the modern baseball card collecting hobby in the 1950s. As such, Roy Face has been featured on numerous baseball cards over the decades offering collectors a look back at his historic career.
One of the earliest Roy Face baseball cards comes from 1952, his rookie season in the major leagues. That year, Bowman Gum included Face in their post-war set which showed him sporting his Pirates uniform from that inaugural campaign. The black and white photo captures a youthful Face at the beginning of his journey to stardom. Only a few hundred thousand of the 1952 Bowman cards were printed so high grade examples of Face’s rookie are quite rare and valuable today, often fetching thousands of dollars.
Face continued to be featured in 1953 Topps and 1953 Bowman sets during his early Pirates years as a starting pitcher and spot reliever. Those mid-1950s issues portrayed him with more experience but before he had truly emerged as a superstar. In 1954 and 1955, Topps included Face in their color photo iterations that helped popularize the modern cardboard collecting craze. Seeing the Pirates hurler depicted in vivid hues gave collectors a new perspective on one of the game’s rising chuckers.
It was in the late 1950s when Roy Face really started making a name for himself with incredible pitching performances out of the bullpen. From 1956-1961, he established himself as arguably the best relief pitcher in baseball, leading the NL in saves three times during that stretch. Concurrent with his dominance on the mound, Face’s baseball cards gained greater prominence too. He was a prominent inclusion in the 1956, 1957, 1958 and 1959 Topps sets as collectors clamored for the mustached marvel’s issue.
An iconic Roy Face card comes from 1960 Topps. That year, Topps introduced the first modern “action photo” design that showed players in dynamic posed scenes instead of static mugshots. Face’s card depicted him mid-windup, capturing the furious kinetic energy he brought with every pitch. It encapsulated why he was such a force to be reckoned with during games. High graded examples of the 1960 Topps Roy Face have reached over $1000 at auction in recent years. It remains one of the most visually stunning and historically important cardboard slices from his storied career.
As the early 1960s progressed, Face remained at the peak of his powers and thus a steady presence in annual sets from Topps and new competitor Fleer. He embodied Pittsburgh’s dominance as “City of Champions” franchises during that era. From 1961-1963, collectors could find Face cards highlighting his contributions to Pirates teams that won pennants and fell just short of World Series glory. Even as he transitioned to more of a setup man later in the decade, Face was still featured prominently with colorful portraits evoking fond memories of his heyday.
While collecting baseball cards exploded in popularity in the 1970s, Face’s career was winding down by that point after 16 standout years with Pittsburgh. He did receive recognition in the 1975 Topps set during his final season with the New York Mets org at age 42. It offered a retrospective nod to one of the pioneers of modern relief pitching. In the decades since, Face has gained legendary status and been remembered thoroughly in hobby pieces. He’s part of treasured 1983 Fleer “legends” subset and received special treatment in 1991 Upper Deck Minors Issue recounting his early pro days.
Modern reprint initiatives and retro-release products by brands like Topps, Stadium Club and Leaf have ensured Roy Face’s iconic imagery endures for future generations of collectors. Contemporary die-cut parallels and acetate variants created by Panini even add a futuristic flair to his seminal cardboard moments from yesteryear. As one of the most accomplished relievers in baseball history and an integral figure in the growth of hobby’s popularity, Face remains an esteemed presence among collectors wherever his classic cards are displayed. His on-field heroics during the sport’s early television age cemented a place among baseball immortals that will be remembered for eras to come thanks to his enduring cardboard contributions.
In conclusion, Roy Face left an indelible mark on the game of baseball with his brilliant pitching performances for the Pirates in the 1950s and 60s. He also made significant impact on the baseball card collecting community through his illustrative cardboard appearances over many decades. Face’s rookie cards from his early career and iconic 1960 Topps issue in particular remain hugely popular with vintage collectors. Meanwhile, hobby pieces and reprints have preserved his legacy into modern times. Through baseball cards, Roy Face’s historic relief exploits continue captivating fans both old and new. He truly represents one of the most fascinating player-hobby intersections from sport’s classic postwar period.
