Law, Vernon S.
Baseball
b. March 12, 1930, Meridian, ID
Law was nicknamed "Deacon" by a teammates because he belonged to the ordained priesthood of the Latter Day Saints (Mormon) Church. The nickname was popularized by long-time Pittsburgh Pirate broadcaster Bob Prince.
Law was a right-handed pitcher who was generally unappreciated because he spent most of his career with losing teams.
However, he was the ace of the staff when the Pittsburgh Pirates won the 1960 NL pennant. Law, who had a 20-9 record with 3 shutouts, a 3.08 ERA, and a league-leading 18 complete games, was named the NL's Cy Young Award winner that season. In Pittsburgh's seven-game World Series victory over the New York Yankees, Law had a 2-0 record and a 3.44 ERA.
He spent his entire 16-year career with the Pirates, from 1950 through 1951 and from 1954 through 1967. Law had a 162-145 record with 28 shutouts and a 3.77 ERA. He struck out 1,092 hitters and walked 597 in 2,672 innings.