1952 Topps #81 Vernon Law
About Vernon Law
Vernon Sanders Law, a right-handed pitcher born March 12, 1930, in Meridian, Idaho, signed with the Pittsburgh Pirates as an amateur free agent in 1948 after part-owner Bing Crosby personally telephoned the Law family to recruit him. He spent his entire 16-season career (1950-1951, 1954-1967) with Pittsburgh, going 162-147 with a 3.77 ERA, 1,092 strikeouts, 119 complete games, and 28 shutouts. His peak came in 1960, when he led the Pirates with a 20-9 record and 18 complete games, made his first of two All-Star teams, and won the inaugural-era Cy Young Award as the first Pittsburgh pitcher so honored. That October he anchored the Pirates' stunning World Series upset of the Yankees, winning Games 1 and 4 and starting the decisive Game 7 while pitching on an ankle he had sprained during the pennant celebration. Nicknamed "Deacon" for serving as an elder in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Law overcame a lingering shoulder problem to win the 1965 NL Comeback Player of the Year Award with a 17-9 record and 2.15 ERA. He is not in the National Baseball Hall of Fame but was inducted into the Pittsburgh Pirates Hall of Fame in 2025.
Sources: Wikipedia · Baseball-Reference · SABR
Graded population (PSA & SGC)
| Grader | Total | 10 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 1-4 | Auth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 691 | 0 | 1 | 41 | 70 | 120 | 146 | 302 | 11 |
| SGC | 138 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 25 | 89 | 2 |
Graded population — a scarcity guide, not a price. Snapshot 2026-06-22. Half-grades fold down (8.5→8); totals are summed across each grader's listed variations.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the 1952 Topps Vernon Law card?
It is card #81 of 407 in the 1952 Topps set - Topps' first flagship issue and the cornerstone of the postwar hobby. It pictures the Pittsburgh Pirates player.
Is the 1952 Topps Vernon Law valuable?
Value depends on grade and (where it applies) the back variation. Use the links above to check current T206 Cards inventory and live eBay listings.
Sources: the Trading Card Database, Baseball-Reference, and PSA & SGC population reports. Card data & population compiled and maintained by T206Cards.com. Page last updated 2026-07-01.