Joe Law

Joseph Michael Law

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb.
• School Pensacola Junior College
• High School Langley High School (Pittsburgh)

• Born February 4, 1962 in Pittsburgh, PA USA

BR Minors page

Biographical Information

Joe Law pitched in the minor leagues for a decade, including part or all of four seasons at AAA. He was 64-49 overall. Twice, he led his league in winning percentage. He was on the major league roster of the Oakland Athletics for four days once in 1988 but never appeared in the show. Joe's son Derek Law was picked in the 2009 amateur draft and the 2011 amateur draft, signing the second time.

Law was an undrafted player, signed by the Oakland Athletics out of college. In 1983, he debuted as a pro, going 0-3 with 2 saves and a 3.45 ERA for the Idaho Falls A's and allowing one run in 3 innings for the Albany A's. In 1984, Joe went 11-2 with a 2.48 ERA for the Modesto A's. He allowed 114 hits (only 4 homers) in 143 innings but walked 71. He led the California League in winning percentage and was 3rd in RBI behind Bob Kipper and Johnny Abrego.

Law struggled with the 1985 Huntsville Stars, going 8-8 with a save and a 6.11 ERA. He walked 78 in 106 innings. Joe split the 1986 season between the Madison Muskies (6-9, 3.51) and Huntsville (1-4, 8.24, 2.11 WHIP). In 1987, the southwestern Pennsylvania native bounced back, going 10-1 with a 2.88 ERA and 1.07 WHIP for the Modesto A's. He made his AAA debut, going 0-1 with a 2.57 ERA in two games for the Tacoma Tigers. He was 6th in the Cal League in ERA and led in winning percentage.

Law split 1988 between Huntsville (9-3, 2.56) and Tacoma (5-3, 3.93). He was 5th in the Southern League in ERA, edging out Pete Harnisch. His callup to Oakland came in early July as Eric Plunk went on the 15-day disabled list. He was supposed to get a start at Cleveland on July 5, but Dave Stewart was able to take his regular turn, and Law watched from the bullpen.

In '89, Joe spent his first full year at AAA, posting a 11-8, 3.78 record for Tacoma. Law struggled in 1990, going 2-5 with a 6.16 ERA for Tacoma. He missed the 1991 season but returned briefly in 1992, going 1-2 with a 6.55 ERA for the Salinas Spurs.

Sources include various Baseball Guides and Baseball Almanacs, "Speed is the ticket for Seton-LaSalle's Law" by Mike White in the 4/29/09 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, April 19, 1990