Perrotto: Pirates Reach Deep Into Past With HoF Class

It is hard to quibble with the three-man class that will enter the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame this year.

Kiki Cuyler, Vernon Law and Al Oliver will be inducted on Aug. 22 before a game against the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park.

All three are deserving candidates, as evidenced by their pages on Baseball-Reference. Yet what I like about this class is that the Pirates haven’t forgotten the franchise roots that stretch to 1882.

The selection of Cuyler this past Saturday made me smile. While it has been 98 years since he last wore a Pirates uniform when they were swept in the 1927 World Series by the New York Yankees, Cuyler is one of the best players in franchise history.

Cuyler had a remarkable .336/.399/.513 slash line during seven seasons with the Pirates from 1921-27. He was never better than in 1925 when he helped carry the Pirates to the National League pennant by leading the league with 144 runs scored and 26 triples while slashing .357/.423/.598 with 18 home runs and 41 stolen bases.

It is one of the best individual seasons in franchise history. However, sadly forgotten in time, is that Cuyler capped 1925 with a remarkable moment that doesn’t get nearly enough recognition.

The Pirates and Washington Senators played the decisive Game 7 of the World Series in a driving rainstorm at Forbes Field. With the score tied at 7-7 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Cuyler hit a two-run double off the immortal Walter Johnson to propel the Pirates to a 9-7 victory.

It will be hard to ever top Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run that gave the Pirates a 10-9 victory over the Yankees in the 1960 World Series. However, Cuyler’s hit shouldn’t be forgotten, and 100 years later, it won’t be with his induction.

Law played his entire career with the Pirates from 1950-67 and held the distinction of being the franchise’s lone Cy Young Award winner for 30 years. He received the honor in 1960 and remains one of just two Pirates pitchers – Doug Drabek was the other in 1990 – with the distinction.

Law had a 20-9 record with an NL-high 18 complete games in 1960 and then went 2-0 in three World Series starts. Yet the most impressive part of Law’s career might have come in the twilight stage.

The Pirates forced Law into retirement late in the 1963 season as he finished 4-5 with a 4.93 ERA while hampered by a sore arm. However, Law had his arm blessed by a Mormon high priest during a youth conference in Salt Lake City that offseason. He miraculously returned to win 12 games in 1964 and 1966 and notch a 17-win season in 1965.

There has been growing sentiment within the organization to induct Law, as he is 95 years old. However, Law is still in good health in Salt Lake City and is hopeful of attending the ceremony.

Oliver, best known as “Scoop”, was the center fielder for the Pirates’ 1971 team that beat the Baltimore Orioles in the World Series and was one of the best pure hitters in franchise history. He batted .296/.335/.454 with 135 home runs in 10 seasons with the Pirates from 1968-77,

I’m not old enough to have seen Cuyler and Law play. However, Oliver was one of my childhood idols, and I was upset when the Pirates traded him to the Texas Rangers following the 1977 season.

The Pirates got Bert Blyleven in the deal, and he strengthened the pitching staff that helped the Pirates win their last World Series title in 1979.

Oliver wasn’t the only future Hall of Famer to be traded by the Pirates, though. Cuyler clashed with autocratic first-year manager Donie Bush during the 1927 season and was traded to the Chicago Cubs that winter.

But time heals all wounds, even if it takes 98 years.