Minor leagues The Pirates originally assigned Law to the
Class D Santa Rosa Pirates of the
Far West League in 1948. Herman said at the time one benefit of assignment to Santa Rosa was that Posedel, a former Major League pitcher who was based in
Vallejo, California, would instruct law with the
Santa Rosa, California team. Law had an 8–5
win–loss record with Santa Rosa and 4.66
earned run average (ERA). He
struck out 126 batters in 110
innings pitched. Evan was assigned to the
Greenville Pirates of the Class D
Alabama State League, where he played his only season of professional baseball. Law had a 5–11 record, but a 2.94 ERA, with 123 strikeouts in 144 innings pitched.
Pittsburgh Pirates 1950–1956 The 20-year old Law was called up to the Pirates in June 1950. He pitched in 27 games for the Pirates, starting 17 games. Law had a 7–9 record, with a 4.92 ERA, for a team with a 57–96 record. In 1951, he pitched in 28 games for the Pirates, starting 14. He had a 6–9 record, with a 4.50 ERA, and one shutout, for the 64–90 1951 Pirates. He injured his right
rotator cuff pitching before and after a rain delay in a game against the
Chicago Cubs that season. Without proper knowledge of how to treat the injury, Law was subjected to having his tonsils removed as one means to deal with the pain, instead of therapeutic techniques that would actually have a benefit. The arm soreness he had during the 1951 season was no longer a problem going into the 1954 season. In 1954, Law returned to the Pirates and pitched in 39 games, starting 18. He had 7 complete games, and three saves, with a 5.51 ERA. He had 56
bases on balls and 57 strikeouts in 161.2 innings pitched. The Pirates finished the season 53–101. In mid-June, the
Chicago Cubs and
St. Louis Cardinals had shown some interest in trading for Law, but no trade occurred. Law improved in 1955, with a 3.81 ERA and 10–10 record, pitching in 43 games and starting 24. This was the first time in his Major League career that his ERA was below 4.00. He also pitched over 200 innings for the first time (200.2), with 81 strikeouts and 62 bases on balls. The team finished 60–94, but Law was 23rd in NL Most Valuable Player voting. On July 19, 1955, Law started a game against the
Milwaukee Braves that went 19 innings. Law pitched the first 18 innings of the game. He did not allow a run from the fourth inning through the 18th inning, and struck out 12 batters and walked only two. Manager
Fred Haney pinch hit for Law in the 18th inning, fearing Law might get a sore arm.
Bob Friend pitched the 19th inning for the Pirates and gave up a run. The Pirates scored two runs in the bottom of the 19th inning, however, winning the game; with the victory going to Friend. Five days later, Haney let Law pitch a 10-inning complete game four-hitter against the
Chicago Cubs, winning 3–2. The effect of pitching 28 innings in five days showed over the rest of the season, with Law losing six of his last nine games in 1955.
Bobby Bragan replaced Haney as the Pirates' manager in 1956. The Pirates had a 66–88 record. Law started 32 of the 39 games in which he pitched, going 8–16, with a 4.32 ERA, 60 strikeouts and 49 walks in 195.2 innings pitched. Law was eighth in the National League in
bases on balls per nine innings pitched (2.254). Bragan continued using Law as a starter in 1957. Law started 25 of the 31 games in which he pitched, and had his first winning record (10–8) in Pittsburgh. Law also had his first below 3.00 ERA season (2.87), and was third in the National League in bases on balls per nine innings pitched (1.668) and fifth in the NL in ERA. The team had a 62–92 season, but
Danny Murtaugh replaced Bragan as manager in early August and led the team to a 26–25 record for the remainder of the season.
1958–1967 Murtaugh had been coaching for the Pirates before he replaced Bragan, and at the time was named a temporary replacement as manager. Murtaugh went on to manage the Pirates in over 2,000 more games (1958–1964, 1967, 1970–71, 1973–76). In his first full season, the Pirates were 84–70, their first winning season in 10 years. In 1958, Murtaugh continued using Law primarily as a starter, and Law had another winning season (14–12). Law had a 3.96 ERA in 202.1 innings pitched, giving up 235 hits, with 56 strikeouts and 39 walks. He was again third in the National League in bases on balls per nine innings pitched (1.735). In 1959 Law was 18–9, with a 2.98 ERA in 266 innings pitched. He started 33 games (with only one relief appearance), completing a career-high 20 games, with two shutouts; striking out 110 batters while walking only 53. He was tied for 19th in NL Most Valuable Player voting. He shared the
NL Player of the Month award in August 1959 (4–0, 1.94 ERA, 25 strikeouts) with
Willie McCovey. He was second in the National League in WAR for pitchers (6.5), third in win-loss percentage (.667), fifth in ERA and bases on balls per nine innings pitched (1.793); and ninth in strikeouts to bases on balls. He defeated every National League team at least once during the 1959 season. In 1960, Law won the
Cy Young Award, when only one such award was given between both leagues. He was selected to play on the NL All-Star team in both 1960 All-Star Games, and was the starting and winning pitcher in the July 13 All-Star Game. Law started all 35 games in which he pitched during the season, with a win–loss record of 20–9, and a 3.08 earned run average. His 18
complete games was tied for best among all Major League pitchers. He was second in the National League in WHIP (
walks and hits per inning pitched) (1.126); third in wins, winning percentage (.690) and bases on balls per nine innings pitched (1.325); fourth in strikeouts to bases on balls; and seventh in ERA. Murtaugh chose Law to pitch in Game 1 of the World Series. Law was the winning pitcher in a 6–4 Pirates' victory. He gave up only two runs on 10 hits over seven innings, including a home run to
Roger Maris. The Yankees won the next two games, scoring 26 total runs. Law started Game 7, giving up three runs on four hits over five innings. The Pirates won in the bottom of the ninth inning on Bill Mazeroski's home run, with
Harvey Haddix earning the win for Pittsburgh. Law had pitched the entire World Series on a bad ankle. When the Pirates clinched the National League pennant on September 25 against the
Milwaukee Braves, Law quickly left the locker room and was the first player on the team bus. In light of his practices as a member of
The Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, in which he was an
elder, Law wanted to avoid the boisterous celebration in the locker room, which included champagne and beer. When some of his teammates joined him on the bus they began what they saw as celebratory horseplay with Law. This included one teammate attempting to pull off Law's tied shoe, twisting Law's ankle as Law tried to resist. The ankle injury bothered Law throughout the World Series. He was forced to change his natural pitching style and pitched in pain for the rest of the season and the World Series. Because of his weak ankle, and pitching in an unnatural manner to compensate, he tore some rotator muscles in the back of his pitching shoulder during the Series. He thought the injury would heal over the winter, but suffered with shoulder problems and a sore arm by the following season, and he was not the same for several seasons. His shoulder and arm problems kept him from pitching after mid-July. The Pirates fell from World Series winner in 1960, to sixth place in 1961. Murtaugh believed Law's problems were the main cause of the Pirates decline, saying "'Where would any team be if they lost their best pitcher?'" Law regressed in 1963, however, pitching only 76.2 innings, with a 4–5 record and 4.93 ERA. Murtaugh suggested to Law that rather than lose the respect and dignity he had earned with the team over the years, that Law consider retirement. At the time, Law had employment as a banker. Rather than retire, in January 1964 Law decided to come back the following season. In 1964, he had his best season since 1960, starting 29 games and pitching 192 innings. He was 12–13, with a 3.61 ERA. He also returned to the top three in the National League for bases on balls per nine innings pitched (1.500). In 1965, Law returned to his 1959-1960 form. He had a 17–9 record, and a 2.15 ERA in 29 games (28 starts). This was the lowest ERA of his career. He pitched over 200 innings (217.1) for the first time since 1960. He shared the NL Player of the Month award in June of that year (with
Willie Stargell), with a 6–1 record, 0.87 ERA, and 32 strikeouts. Law pitched without pain in 1965. He derived a great deal of personal satisfaction from his accomplishments that season because his ability to pitch had fallen into question in the recent past. He also had a greater knowledge of how to pitch in 1965 than he did in 1960, and felt his 1965 season was his best year as a pitcher. In December 1965, Law was unanimously selected by the
Phi Delta Theta fraternity to receive the 11th annual
Lou Gehrig Award for his 1965 season, based on his contributions both on and off the field. He was selected to receive the award "'on the basis of his indomitable competitive spirit, great strength of character and because, as a man, he commands the respect of his teammates, his competitors and baseball fans everywhere'". He was second in the NL in bases on balls per nine innings pitched (1.216) and seventh in strikeouts to bases on balls. In his final season, 1967, the 37-year old Law pitched in 25 games, starting in 10. He threw 97 innings, with a 4.18 ERA and 2–6 record. Law finished his career with a record of 162–147. As a hitter, Law posted a .216
batting average (191-for-883) with 96
runs, 35
doubles, 7
triples, 11
home runs, 90
RBI and drawing 41
bases on balls. In the
1960 World Series, he batted .333 (2-for-6) with a run scored and one RBI. He was better than average defensively, recording a .972
fielding percentage, which was 16 points higher than the league average at his position. ==Coaching career==