Vern Law

Lore & Background

Law was born on March 12, 1930, in Meridian, Idaho. He attended Meridian High School, where he pitched on the baseball team. As a senior in 1948, he pitched three no-hit, no-run games, and was one of the top pitching prospects in the country. His brother Evan Law was a catcher at Boise Junior College when Law was a senior in high school. Within a day of graduating high school, Law was pursued by scouts from 10 different MLB teams, including former MLB player Floyd 'Babe' Herman, who scouted him for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pirates scout Bill Posedel was also involved in recruiting Law. Popular singer, radio star and movie star Bing Crosby was part owner of the Pirates at the time. Crosby called Law's parents, encouraging them to have their son join the Pirates. Herman Welker, who was later a United States senator from Idaho, had recommended Law to Crosby. Law signed a contract in late May 1948 to join the Pirates organization.

In Their Own Story

The seventh-inning change-up is announced over the stadium PA, and the crowd at Three Rivers Stadium exhales as one. Law jogs from the bullpen, cap pulled low, towel draped over his shoulder like a cape. He doesn't look at the batter. He doesn't look at the crowd. He looks at the umpire, taps his chest twice, and settles into his rubber. The first pitch is over the heart. The second is over the head—close enough that the batter flinches, close enough that the umpire's eyes narrow. Law points at the batter's helmet, mouths something no one in the stands can quite make out, and grins. The third pitch is a curveball that breaks so late the batter's swing whistles through the zone and the catcher never moves his mask. Strike three. Law spits, adjusts his cap, and jogs back to the mound. The crowd roars, but it's a different roar than the one for a home run. It's the roar of relief. Of ownership. Of a fanbase that knows, in its bones, that the game is theirs now and no one is taking it back.

Reader's Guide

Law was a starting pitcher throughout his major-league career. He started all 35 games in which he pitched during the 1960 season. He was a control pitcher who relied on a sinker and changeup. He finished among the top three National League pitchers in bases on ball per nine innings pitched in multiple seasons. He was selected to play on the NL All-Star team in both 1960 All-Star Games, and was the starting and winning pitcher in the July 13 All-Star Game. In 1960, he won the Cy Young Award, when only one such award was given between both leagues. He helped lead the Pirates to a World Series victory over the New York Yankees, winning two games in the series. He won Game 1 of the World Series. His career ended in 1967.

Did You Know?

• Law was the first Pittsburgh pitcher to win the Cy Young Award.
• He is currently the oldest living Cy Young Award winner.
• Law pitched 17 innings in a single game against the Milwaukee Braves on July 19, 1955.
• He was inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame in August 2025.
• Law voluntarily enlisted in the United States Army during the Korean War, missing the 1952 and 1953 seasons.