| Carl Erskine | |
|---|---|
 Erskine with the Brooklyn Dodgers,c. 1953 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born:(1926-12-13)December 13, 1926 Anderson, Indiana, U.S. | |
| Died: April 16, 2024(2024-04-16) (aged 97) Anderson, Indiana, U.S. | |
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
| MLB debut | |
| July 25, 1948, for the Brooklyn Dodgers | |
| Last MLB appearance | |
| June 14, 1959, for the Los Angeles Dodgers | |
| MLB statistics | |
| Win–loss record | 122–78 |
| Earned run average | 4.00 |
| Strikeouts | 981 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Carl Daniel Erskine (December 13, 1926 – April 16, 2024), nicknamed "Oisk", was an American baseballpitcher inMajor League Baseball who played his entire career for theBrooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers from 1948 through 1959. He was a pitching mainstay on Dodger teams which won fiveNational League pennants and the1955 World Series.
During the 1953 season, Erskinewon 20 games and set aWorld Series record with 14strikeouts in a single game. He was anAll-Star the following season. Erskine pitched two of the NL's sevenno-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 theSpecial Olympics and charities which aimed at helping people with developmental difficulties such as his son Jimmy, who was born withDown syndrome. Erskine died in 2024, the last surviving member of the "Boys of Summer" Brooklyn teams of the 1950s.
Erskine was born inAnderson, Indiana, the youngest of three sons. He attendedAnderson High School where he was a standout pitcher, attracting the attention of theBrooklyn Dodgers. After graduating, however, he joined theUnited States Navy in 1945. During his time with the Navy, he was stationed atBoston Navy Yard.[1]
While in Boston, Erskine worked out with theBoston Braves who showed interest in him. However, Erskine remained loyal to the Dodgers and stalled the Braves'general managerJohn Quinn until an offer came from Dodgers' general managerBranch Rickey who gave him a bonus of $3,500 ($56,000 today) to sign with the Dodgers.[1]
After being discharged from the Navy in 1946, he was declared afree agent by CommissionerHappy Chandler as the Dodgers had violated a directive which forbade Major League teams from signing a player active in the military. After a bidding war between theBoston Red Sox, thePhiladelphia Phillies, and the Dodgers, he signed with Brooklyn for another bonus of $5,000 ($81,000 today).[1]
Erskine broke into the majors a year beforeDon Newcombe, and from 1948 to 1950 was used primarily as arelief pitcher, going 21–10. In 1951, he mixed 19 starts with 27 relief appearances, and went 16–12. Erskine was 14–6 in 1952 with a career-best 2.70earned run average, then had his 20-win season in 1953, leading the league with a .769 winning percentage along with 187strikeouts and 16complete games, all career highs. This was followed by 18–15 in 1954, posting career highs in starts (37) and innings (260+1⁄3), then by 11–8 in 1955 and 13–11 in 1956.[2]
When Newcombe was pitching in the ninth inning of the third game of the playoff with theNew York Giants on October 3, 1951, Erskine andRalph Branca were warming up in the bullpen. On the recommendation of pitching coachClyde Sukeforth, who thought that Branca had better stuff, Newcombe was relieved by Branca, who then gave up the game-winning home run toBobby Thomson. Whenever Erskine was asked what his best pitch was, he replied, "The curveball I bounced in thePolo Grounds bullpen in 1951."[3]
Erskine was a member of the beloved Dodgers team that won the1955 World Series for the franchise's first Series title.[2] He appeared in eleven World Series games (1949–52–53-55-56), and made the NLAll-Star team in1954. Erskine's 14 strikeouts as the winner of Game 3 of the 1953 Fall Classic – including striking out the side in the ninth inning – broke the Series record of 13 held byHoward Ehmke (1929, Game 1), and stood for 10 years untilSandy Koufax struck out 15New York Yankees in the first game of the1963 World Series. He was ineffective in Games 1 and 6, although he was not charged with the losses. From 1951 through 1956, Erskine won 92 games while losing only 58, which helped the Dodgers to four pennants and World Series.[2]
Erskine threw twono-hitters during his career. His first was against theChicago Cubs on June 19, 1952, during which he walked only one batter, just missing a perfect game.[4] His second no-hitter came against theNew York Giants on May 12, 1956.[5] Erskine is one of two Dodger pitchers to throw multiple no-hitters, the other being teammateSandy Koufax who threw four.
In 1958, the Dodgers moved toLos Angeles. On April 18, Erskine started the home opener at theLos Angeles Coliseum against theSan Francisco Giants, who had moved west with their rivals, and won the game 6–5.[6] 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 in1718+2⁄3innings 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.[2]
Following his retirement as a player, Erskine returned to his native Indiana. For the 1960 season, he worked as acolor commentator for Saturday-afternoon telecasts of major league games onABC, teaming with play-by-play announcerJack Buck. He coached for thecollege baseball teamAnderson College for 12 seasons, including fourHoosier Conference championships, and his 1965 squad went 20–5 and reached theNAIA World Series. He had 18 players named to All-Conference teams, and three named asAll-American.[1]
Erskine also became a leader in the community, participating in numerous organizations and businesses, including rising to the presidency of the Star Bank of Anderson, Indiana, before easing back to the role of vice chairman of the board. He was devoted to his son Jimmy, who was born withDown syndrome. He lived at home and held a job nearby at the Hopewell Center for people with developmental difficulties.[7]
To commemorate Erskine's accomplishments both as a Dodger and as a citizen, a 6-foot (1.8 m) 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 inBrooklyn was created and named after him.[8]
In 2010, he was awarded theSachem Award by GovernorMitch Daniels of Indiana, the state's highest honor which is given to recognize lifetime achievement of citizens of Indiana.[9]
Erskine served as a member of the advisory board of theBaseball Assistance Team, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping formerMajor League,Minor League, andNegro league baseball players through financial and medical difficulties.[10] Additionally, the Carl and Betty Erskine Society was formed by Erskine in order to raise money for theSpecial Olympics in which he was involved for more than 40 years.[11]
In 2023, theNational Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum awarded Erskine theBuck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to charity and his work towards theSpecial Olympics.[12]
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 ofAnderson, Indiana.[1] He had initially planned to move his family toNew York City to work as a representative forVan Heusen's athletic wear. However, after Jimmy Erskine was born withDown Syndrome, the family chose to remain in Anderson.[13]
Following a bout ofpneumonia, Erskine died on April 16, 2024, at Community Hospital Anderson. He was 97. Erskine outlived his son, Jimmy, who had died in 2023.[14]
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.[15] Upon his death, Dodgers president and chief executive officerStan Kasten released the following statement:
Carl Erskine was an exemplary Dodger. He was as much a hero off the field as he was on the field – which given the brilliance of his pitching is saying quite a lot. His support of the Special Olympics and related causes, inspired by his son Jimmy – who led a life beyond all expectations when he was born with Down Syndrome, cemented his legacy. We celebrate the life of 'Oisk' as we extend our sympathies to his wife, Betty, and their family.[16]
Erskine's funeral was held in Madison Park Church of God inAnderson, Indiana on April 22. His body was later interred at Anderson Memorial Park.[17]
| Achievements | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher June 19, 1952 May 12, 1956 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Brooklyn DodgersOpening Day Starting pitcher 1951 1953–1955 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
