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Pirates induct Vernon Law, Al Oliver, Kiki Cuyler into team hall of fame

Dave Mackall
| Thursday, August 21, 2025 8:52 p.m.
Christopher Horner | TribLive
Vernon Law is greeted by Steve Blass after being inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame on Thursday.

They celebrated their victories, but there was no time for partying where Vernon Law and Al Oliver were concerned.

Besides, even if they could, neither wanted anything to do with it.

For those two former Pittsburgh Pirates greats, faith has ruled their lives.

“Baseball has been my career. Yes, I’ve been successful in a lot of ways with what I’ve been taught,” said Law, the first pitcher in club history to win a Cy Young Award. “And along with the inspiration and help that I get from the man upstairs.”

At 95, “The Deacon” still knows how to preach, holding court for a captive audience on Thursday at PNC Park, where Law, Oliver and the late Kiki Cuyler were inducted into the Pirates Hall of Fame.

Welcoming the Class of 2025 to the Pirates Hall of Fame ???? pic.twitter.com/wclE7crpgw

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 22, 2025

They will be honored on the field during a pregame ceremony Friday night before the start of the Pirates Hall of Fame Game against the Colorado Rockies.

All three members of the club’s fourth class helped the Bucs to a World Series championship — Oliver in 1971, Law in 1960 and Cuyler 100 years ago in 1925.

“The 2025 class of inductees all have made significant historical contributions to the organization and are very deserving of this prestigious recognition,” Pirates chairman Bob Nutting said.

Cuyler, who was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1968, played the first seven years of his 18-year major-league career with the Pirates.

His two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning gave the Pirates the deciding runs in the seventh game of the 1925 World Series against the Washington Senators.

“Pittsburgh is such a special place for us,” said Abby Cuyler Smith, who along with her sister, Heather Cuyler, are Kiki Cuyler’s great granddaughters. “We just grew up with stories about him. We grew up in Pittsburgh … our dad just was very proud of his grandfather.”

Cuyler batted .336 in 525 games for the Pirates from 1921-27, leading the team to two National League pennants.

Calling his induction into the Pirates Hall “a capstone” to his 16-year major-league career, the right-handed Law spent all his time with the Pirates.

He was the first of two Pirates pitchers to win the Cy Young Award, going 20-9 with an NL-leading 18 complete games in 1960.

Doug Drabek won a Cy Young Award for the 1990 Pirates, who might just produce a third winner this season if Paul Skenes continues his dominating year.

Law posted a career mark of 162-147 with a 3.77 ERA and 119 complete games.

Oliver, 78, known as “Scoop” for his uncanny ability at first base to catch low throws, spent 10 of his 18 major league seasons playing for the Pirates, making his big-league debut with the Bucs in 1968.

He finished second in voting for NL Rookie of the Year in 1969 and was a three-time All-Star with the Bucs in 1972, ’75 and ’76.

“I never was a partier, drinker or smoker,” Oliver said, “and that’s why even at the end of my career in 1985 (with the Toronto Blue Jays), I still had the same speed — foot and bat.”

While with the Pirates, Oliver batted .296 with 135 home runs and 717 RBIs.

And though he has been passed over so far for induction into the National Hall of Fame, Oliver amassed a total of 2,743 hits and sported a career batting average of .303 for seven teams.

He won a batting title in 1982 with the Montreal Expos, finishing the year at .331.

“It means a lot to me,” Oliver said of his Pirates induction. “The reason why it means a lot to me is the fact that this is where it all started.”

While they provided so many thrills for Pirates fans during World Series championship years, Law and Oliver, at least, channeled their enthusiasm in lieu of wild celebrations.

“When we clinched the pennant (in 1960) in Milwaukee, the guys started celebrating,” Law said. “I was the first one out of that room. I didn’t want to celebrate like they celebrated. I sat in the bus waiting to go back to Pittsburgh.”

Oliver chuckled as he looked at Law, acknowledging “The Deacon’s” words. He, too, wasn’t into all that rabble-rousing.

“I’m a man of faith,” Oliver said, looking skyward. “Always have been up until this day. I know He’s the reason why I’m here today.”


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