Three more legends will be immortalized in the Pirates Hall of Fame.
The Pittsburgh Pirates organization made the announcement on Saturday on who would be inducted into this year’s Pirates Hall of Fame. The three inductees are outfielder Kiki Cuyler, pitcher Vernon Law, and first baseman/outfielder Al Oliver.
Pirates’ owner Bob Nutting released a statement regarding why these three players were selected for this year’s class, highlighting some of their notable contributions to the Pittsburgh ball club.
“The 2025 class of inductees all have made significant historical contributions to the organization and are very deserving of this prestigious recognition. Kiki was the hero of the 1925 World Series championship for the Pirates. Vernon was the club’s first Cy Young Award winner and a member of our world champion 1960 team. Al was a key contributor on our 1971 World Series winning team and a part of Major League Baseball’s first all-minority starting lineup in September of that season. Their induction into the Pirates Hall of Fame will ensure that their legacy and contributions to the Pirates will live on for generations to come.”
A member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame, Kiki Cuyler first appeared for the Pirates in 1921. In 1925 as a full-time member of the Pirates, Cuyler would go onto set a franchise record with 369 total bases compiled over the season. That same season, the Pirates would face the Washington Senators in the World Series, where in game seven Cuyler scored a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth, sealing the victory for the Buccos.
Legends in Black & Gold.
Introducing our 2025 Hall of Fame Class. pic.twitter.com/MTDXTlbMV8
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) June 7, 2025
Cuyler has a career batting average of .321 with 2,299 hits 1,065 RBIs. Four times he was the NL’s leading bag stealer, was inducted into Cooperstown in 1968, and is a part of the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame as well.
Vernon Law was a pivotal part of the franchise’s 1960 World Series winning team, and of course was the club’s first ever Cy Young Award recipient. Law would debut for the Pirates in 1950, before enlisting in the military in 1951 and serving until 1954. Upon his return he would earn a spot in the Pirates’ rotation, pitching very well up until an injury in the 1960 season seriously changed his approach on the mound. However, he did win the comeback player of the year award in 1965 with a 17-9 record and a 2.15 ERA.
Law would play his entire career with the Pirates, amassing a 162-147 record and 1,092 career strikeouts. Law would also serve as a pitching coach with the Pirates for two seasons after his retirement before eventually leaving to be an assistant coach with Brigham Young University.
“I had to pull over to the side of the road… It’s just a good feeling to come back and be a part of the Pittsburgh Pirates history.”
Al Oliver on learning he is joining the Pirates HOF pic.twitter.com/aRuB97DAqw
— SportsNet Pittsburgh (@SNPittsburgh) June 7, 2025
Al Oliver made his presence felt during his time in Pittsburgh, where he would play 10 of his 18 Major League seasons. A member of the 1971 World-Series team, Oliver was also playing first base when the Pirates fielded the first ever all-minority lineup in Major League Baseball history. Oliver helped lead the Pirates to five division titles in six years from 1970-1975.
Oliver was a seven-time All Star, three-time Silver Slugger, and was the NL batting champ and RBI leader with the Montreal Expos in 1982. Oliver would have nine straight seasons where he would hit .300 or above with a career average of .303 with 2,743 hits and 219 homers.
The trio will be officially inducted into the Pirates’ Hall of Fame on August 21 and will be honored pre game on August 22 as the Buccos take on the Colorado Rockies. Law and Oliver are expected to be in attendance for the ceremony.