Carl Erskine, one in all solely two pitchers to throw a number of no-hitters with the Dodgers, and thought of the final remaining member of the Boys of Summer season Brooklyn groups, has died on the age of 97 in his hometown of Anderson , Indiana.

Erskine gained 122 video games in 12 years for the Dodgers in Brooklyn and Los Angeles from 1948-59, made one All-Star staff and pitched in 5 World Collection. He struck out a file 14 batters in Recreation 3 of the 1955 World Collection towards the Yankees at Ebbets Area, a mark he held till Sandy Koufax broke it 10 years later.

Signed by the Dodgers in 1946, Erskine reached the majors in 1948 at age 21. He pitched a no-hitter towards the Cubs in Brooklyn on June 19, 1952, after which no-hit the Giants on Might 12, 1956, additionally at Ebbets. Camp. The one different Dodgers pitcher with a number of no-hitters is Koufax.

Erskine earlier than his demise was thought of a residing member of the Boys of Summer season Brooklyn groups of the Fifties. Of the 32 gamers who entered a sport for the 1955 Dodgers, winners of the primary World Collection in historical past of the franchise, Koufax is now the one residing member, and he was a 19-year-old rookie who solely pitched in 12 video games that 12 months. .

Final 12 months, Erskine gained the Buck O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award from the Nationwide Baseball Corridor of Fame, the sixth winner of the award designed “to honor a person whose efforts have broadened the enchantment of the sport and whose character, integrity and dignity is akin to the late O'Neil.”

Erskine was not current in Cooperstown final July throughout the ceremony to obtain the award, as an alternative staying at his residence in Anderson, Indiana. However Erskine recorded a video that was performed throughout the ceremony, along with his son current.

“I'm only a skinny child from Anderson, Indiana. It's been a fantastic journey for me. To be on the large stage, It's a dream {that a} child has, to play on the identical stage with the superstars of the sport,” he stated Erskine within the video. “In fact, my roommate was Duke Snider, one of many all-time greats. I performed with Jackie Robinson and Roy Campanella, and that entire staff. They're all Corridor of Famers. I don't know the place I obtained in there , however I'm certain glad to be right here.”

Erskine and his spouse Betty have been praised for his or her work with the Particular Olympics for a lot of many years, together with the Particular Olympics Spirit award for his or her efforts. His son Jimmy, who was born with Down syndrome, grew to become a fixture within the Dodgers fields and was the impetus for a lot of the charitable works of Erskines, who died in 2023.

Erskine defined his obligation to return in an interview with Norm Heikens on the Sagamore Institute.

“Properly, in the event that they occur on a regular basis, it's nearly a moot level. Typically we really feel that everybody is egocentric, and withdrawn, and so they handle themselves and the satan with the remainder of you. However that's not true,” stated Erskine. “When you begin out figuring out that you just're truly an inheritor, a benefactor of what another person has executed that you just've by no means met or by no means know, it is advisable do it. I believe that every one life ought to actually start with thanksgiving and reward as a result of you could have life your self.”

Dodgers CEO Stan Kasten stated in an announcement: “Carl Erskine was an exemplary Dodger. He was as a lot a hero off the sector as he was on the sector — which, given the brilliance of his pitching, is saying loads .

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Erskine was referred to as a legend and human rights icon by Dana Hunsinger Benbow on the Indy Star.

Final July earlier than his Corridor of Fame honor, Erskine was visited in Indiana by Tyler Kepner of the New York Instances, and even performed “Take Me Out to the Ball Recreation” on his harmonica for the piece.

From Mark Langill at Dodgers Insider, right here's Erskine speaking about Jackie Robinson:

“Jackie and Jimmy – they stay at totally different occasions in historical past and are available from totally different distinctive circumstances,” Erskine wrote. “The one highly effective issue that made them each profitable is that they have been standing up for what was proper. Ultimately, what is true will all the time prevail. Within the parallel journeys of Jackie and Jimmy, there’s a main distinction. Jackie has confronted the “bully” alone. Jimmy was only a consultant particular person of all those that weren’t accepted within the mainstream of life.”

Erskine defined the origin of his nickname “Oisk” in Brooklyn, as recounted by Richard Goldstein within the New York Instances: “I obtained off the subway and I had my purse with me, 'Fort Value Cats' from the aspect. Properly, after I obtained to the Ebbets Area roundabout, individuals noticed me. My first introduction to Ebbets Area was, “Hey, there's Oiskine. From Fort Woith. It was only a pure flip of language in Brooklyn.”

From Don Burke within the New York Publish:

At any time when Erskine was requested to provide a speech as a World Collection champion, he held up his World Collection ring and advised the viewers how a lot it meant to him. However then, he was displaying off one in all Jimmy's gold medals from the Particular Olympics.

“Inform me who's the most important hit,” says Erskine. “Which of those means extra?”

A shoulder damage ended Erskine's profession on the age of 32. In accordance with Russ Stanton of the Los Angeles Instances, Erskine stated, “I by no means wished to be referred to as an arm thrower, as a result of I didn't not advised a lot about it. … I had therapy on the aspect, like I may. I by no means opted for a begin in my entire profession.”



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