Carl Daniel Erskine (December 13, 1926 – April 16, 2024), nicknamed "Oisk", was an American baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1948 through 1959. He was a pitching mainstay on Dodger teams which won five National League pennants and the 1955 World Series.

During the 1953 season, Erskine won 20 games and set a World Series record with 14 strikeouts in a single game. He was an All-Star the following season. Erskine pitched two of the NL's seven no-hitters during the 1950s.

After his baseball career ended, he was active as a business executive and an author. In particular, he was involved deeply with the Special Olympics and charities which aimed at helping people with developmental difficulties such as his son Jimmy, who was born with Down syndrome. Erskine died in 2024, the last surviving member of the "Boys of Summer" Brooklyn teams of the 1950s.

Early life

Erskine was born in Anderson, Indiana, the youngest of three sons. He attended Anderson High School where he was a standout pitcher, attracting the attention of the Brooklyn Dodgers. After graduating, however, he joined the United States Navy in 1945. During his time with the Navy, he was stationed at Boston Navy Yard.

While in Boston, Erskine worked out with the Boston Braves who showed interest in him. However, Erskine remained loyal to the Dodgers and stalled the Braves' general manager John Quinn until an offer came from Dodgers' general manager Branch Rickey who gave him a bonus of $3,500 ($ today) to sign with the Dodgers.

Erskine was a member of the beloved Dodgers team that won the 1955 World Series for the franchise's first Series title.

Erskine threw two no-hitters during his career. His first was against the Chicago Cubs on June 19, 1952, during which he walked only one batter, just missing a perfect game. His second no-hitter came against the New York Giants on May 12, 1956. Erskine is one of two Dodger pitchers to throw multiple no-hitters, the other being teammate Sandy Koufax who threw four.

In 1958, the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles. On April 18, Erskine started the home opener at the Los Angeles Coliseum against the San Francisco Giants, who had moved west with their rivals, and won the game 6–5. However, his career in Los Angeles but lasted only a season and a half. He made his final appearance on June 14, 1959. In a twelve-season career, he posted a 122–78 (.610) record with 981 strikeouts and a 4.00 earned run average in innings pitched. After retiring, he was made an assistant pitching coach in 1959 and finished the season on the team that went on to win the World Series.

260px|thumb|right|The Erskine Street exit of the Belt Parkway in Brooklyn

To commemorate Erskine's accomplishments both as a Dodger and as a citizen, a bronze statue was built in front of the Carl D. Erskine Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine Center. Erskine also donated part of his land to the Anderson Community School System to build a new school, which was named Erskine Elementary. In 2002, Erskine Street in Brooklyn was created and named after him.

In 2010, he was awarded the Sachem Award by Governor Mitch Daniels of Indiana, the state's highest honor which is given to recognize lifetime achievement of citizens of Indiana.

Erskine served as a member of the advisory board of the Baseball Assistance Team, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping former Major League, Minor League, and Negro league baseball players through financial and medical difficulties. Additionally, the Carl and Betty Erskine Society was formed by Erskine in order to raise money for the Special Olympics in which he was involved for more than 40 years.

In 2023, the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum awarded Erskine the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to charity and his work towards the Special Olympics.

Personal life and death

Erskine married Betty Palmer on October 5, 1947, they remained married for the next 76 years. The couple had four children together: Danny, Gary, Susan, and Jimmy. After his retirement, the couple lived in his hometown of Anderson, Indiana.

Following a bout of pneumonia, Erskine died on April 16, 2024, at Community Hospital Anderson. He was 97. Erskine outlived his son, Jimmy, who had died in 2023.

Erskine was the last surviving member of the "Boys of Summer" Brooklyn Dodgers of the 1940s and 1950s, and the last surviving member of the 1955 World Champion Brooklyn Dodgers. Upon his death, Dodgers president and chief executive officer Stan Kasten released the following statement:

Erskine's funeral was held in Madison Park Church of God in Anderson, Indiana on April 22. His body was later interred at Anderson Memorial Park.

See also

  • List of Major League Baseball no-hitters
  • List of Major League Baseball players who spent their entire career with one franchise

References

Further reading

Articles

Books

  • Carl Erskine: 2023 Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award recipient at the Baseball Hall of Fame