Regular visitors of Notinhalloffame.com know that we are slowly working on the top 50 of every major team in the NHL, NBA, NFL, and MLB. Once that is done, we will examine how each team honors its past players, coaches, and executives. As such, it is important to us that the Pittsburgh Pirates have announced three new members to their franchise Hall of Fame.

Kiki Cuyler, Vernon Law and Al Oliver will comprise the Class of 2025, adding to the 26 that have been inducted since the Hall’s inception in 2022.

Cuyler played his first seven years with the Pirates (1921-27), where he helped them win the 1925 World Series.  As a Pirate, the Outfielder twice led the National League in Runs Scored (1925 & 1926), Stolen Bases once (1925), and batted .336 with 680 Hits for the team.  He entered the Baseball Hall of Fame via the Veterans Committee in 1968.

Law played all 16 of MLB seasons with the Pirates (1950-51 & 1954-57) and was the top arm and Cy Young winner on the team that won the 1960 World Series.  He had a record of 162-147 with a 3.77 ERA and 1,092 Strikeouts.

Oliver was with Pittsburgh from 1968 to 1977 and helped the team win a World Series in 1971.  He was a three-time All-Star, collected 1,490 Hits with 135 Home Runs with a .296 Batting Average as a Pirate.

We here at Notinhalloffame.com would like to congratulate the incoming members of the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame.

An athlete's greatness often extends beyond their skills, reflected in their character. Vern Law embodied this with unwavering faith and respect in sport. Known as "The Deacon" for his integrity and calm, he led Western Pennsylvania's rotation for nearly two decades, symbolizing blue-collar reliability. Despite tough times in the 1950s, he achieved peak performance when it mattered most.

His initial appearance during the 1950 schedule offered a brief glimpse of his frontline potential, but his development was suddenly interrupted when he was called away for a multi-year military service. Law rejoined the club before the 1954 season, and over the next five summers, he moved smoothly within a transitional pitching staff as the front office gradually built a competitive team.

His rise to elite efficiency truly occurred during a remarkable 1959 breakout, when he achieved 18 wins and maintained a spotless 2.98 ERA, solidifying his national reputation.

The pinnacle of his career was during the memorable 1960 regular season. Law showcased incredible control and resilience, pitching despite a painful ankle injury to earn the prestigious Cy Young Award, the first in franchise history. He made taking the mound a symbol of consistent excellence, winning a personal-best 20 games and leading all major league pitchers with 18 complete games.

When the Pirates faced the formidable New York Yankees in the Fall Classic, "The Deacon" secured his everlasting place in Steel City lore by starting three games and earning two crucial wins, outshining the American League champions and leading Pittsburgh to a historic world title.

Far from a one-summer wonder, Law demonstrated remarkable longevity by overcoming a severe shoulder tear that could have ended a lesser player's career, maintaining his role on the staff until 1967. His 16-year tenure as a “Lifer" included nine seasons with double-digit wins, during which he consistently outsmarted hitters with a sharp breaking ball and excellent control of the strike zone.

He left the game after 1967, leaving a strong local baseline. In 483 games for Pittsburgh, Law had 162 wins, 119 complete games, 28 shutouts, and 1,092 strikeouts over 2,672 innings.