CRANBERRY TWP — A former Pittsburgh Pirates champion was honored Tuesday evening in the township.

Vern Law, who won the 1960 World Series with the Pirates as a starting pitcher, was given the Lifetime Contribution Award from the Brigham Young University Management Society's Pittsburgh chapter.

“It's an honor,” Law said. “Anytime my age when you get an award, I'm ready to come. This organization has accomplished a lot of good things.”

Law spent his entire MLB career with the Pirates, playing from 1950-51 and again from 1954-67.

Along with the World Series championship, he won the Cy Young Award, was a two-time All-Star and earned the National League Comeback Player of the Year Award in 1965.

He was a recipient of the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award in 1965, which is annually given to an MLB player who “best exhibits the character and integrity of Lou Gehrig, both on the field and off it.”

“That's significant,” said Jeff Manley, co-president of the BYU Management Society. “That's the type of characteristics that Vern has had to receive this Lifetime Achievement Award.”

Law is also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, hence how he got his nickname, “The Deacon.” He has been an ordained priest for the church since he was 17-years-old.

Tuesday's ceremony was held at the LDS Church on Rochester Road.

“It's fun to get back to this area,” Law said. “This is like a second home to us.” Law resides in Utah.

He gave a keynote speech on his life growing up, his career with the Pirates and how religion has affected his life.

A video highlighting Law in the Pirates' 1960 World Series championship win was also shown.

“I am grateful I was born and raised on a farm,” Law said. “I think it made a man out of me; it made me see what I had to do to be successful.”

He recalled “always throwing things” at targets when he was a child in Meridian, Idaho.

“Even birds in the air,” Law said. “I could remember the sandpit where I stood and I would throw them (rocks) and knock a bird out of the air.”

Law was signed by the Pirates before the 1948 season and spent the next couple of years in the minor leagues before being called up.

“Bob Chesnes, one of our old pitchers, developed bone spurs in his arm and shoulder and could no longer pitch,” Law said.

He said the message he wanted people to leave with Tuesday evening was the importance of service to others.

“Service is a wonderful thing to talk about,” Law said. “There are people who have given their lives to service for our country and for what we are able to have.”

“We all have something to give and it's a beautiful thing to do,” he continued.

The BYU Management Society also gave awards to the following Tuesday evening: “Women Professionals Award” to Audrey J. Murrell, associate dean and associate professor, Katz Graduate School of Business, director of the David Berg Center for Ethics and Leadership, University of Pittsburgh; “Small Business in Excellence Award” to Rich and Lynne Arrington, owners, SpeedPro Imaging; “Emerging Leader Award,” to Michael Gallup, president of TeleTracking.

The society says its mission is to build moral and ethical leadership throughout the world, with the Pittsburgh chapter focusing on southwestern Pennsylvania.

“We do this in several different ways,” said society co-president James Jacob. “One of the goals is to work with businesses in the Pittsburgh area to help retain (employees).”

The society also gives scholarship money to students through its Pathway program.