Carl Erskine, a former star pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers who won two World Series with the team and played alongside Jackie Robinson, passed away this week at the age of 97.
During Erskine’s career with the Dodgers, he finished with a 122-78 record, won two World Series championships, and threw two no-hitters. During his time with the Dodgers, the team relocated to Los Angeles. Erskine played with the team from 1948 to 1959.
In 2023, Erskine became the sixth person to receive the John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The honor was bestowed upon him for his extraordinary efforts to enhance baseball’s positive impact on society.
Erskine was not only a great player but also a great person who was a friend and teammate of Jackie Robinson. Erskine stated that he was stunned by the racial taunts directed at Robinson.
Before reaching the Major League, Erskine was drafted into the Navy in 1945-1946.
Carl Daniel Erskine was born on Dec. 13, 1926, in Anderson. He played American Legion baseball as a youngster and on the high school baseball team. He was drafted into the Navy in 1945-46, and joined the Dodgers organization when he was discharged. He pitched four seasons in the minor leagues before reaching the big leagues.
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Carl made his Major League debut on July 25, 1948, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he entered the game as a reliever. Despite entering the game trailing 5-3, the Dodgers scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning and ultimately won, securing Erskine’s first victory.
Erskine wrote a book about his experience playing with Robinson as he broke the league’s color barrier. The book is titled “What I Learned From Jackie Robinson.”
After his baseball career, Erskine pursued a career in banking. In 1999, he retired from banking and returned to baseball, coaching at Anderson University, a small private Christian college. Carl coached at Anderson for twelve seasons, winning four conference championships.championships. Erskine even has a street named after him in Brooklyn.
Rest in peace!
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