Sometimes sports heroes come from unlikely places.

Take the case of Vernon Law, right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Vernon came from Meridian, Idaho, a few clicks out of Boise, and midway between Boise and Nampa.

Law won two games during the 1960 World Series as Pittsburgh turned away the New York Yankees in a seven-game series.

A tall, lanky kid at the time, Law threw from the right,...