LOS ANGELES — Carl Erskine, renowned for pitching two no-hitters and for his pivotal role on the Brooklyn Dodgers, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 97.
Erskine died at Community Hospital Anderson in Anderson, Indiana, reported Michele Hockwalt, a spokesperson for the hospital.
Erskine was among the final living members of the iconic 1950s Brooklyn Dodgers. His entire major league tenure from 1948 to 1959 was with the Dodgers, contributing to their five National League titles.
Over his career, Erskine recorded a 122-78 win-loss record, a 4.00 ERA, and achieved 981 strikeouts.
His standout season was 1953, boasting a 20-6 record, the best in the National League that year. In the World Series’ Game 3, Erskine triumphed over the Yankees 3-2 at Ebbets Field, striking out 14—a record that stood until Sandy Koufax surpassed it in 1963. Despite his performance, the Dodgers were defeated in six games, with the Yankees clinching their fifth consecutive title.
Erskine, who was an All-Star in 1954, featured in five World Series, celebrating a championship victory over the Yankees in 1955—the Dodgers’ sole Brooklyn title. Despite a challenging start in Game 4, where he conceded a home run and was pulled out after 3 2/3 innings, the Dodgers secured an 8-5 victory.
Following Erskine’s death, 88-year-old Koufax is now the last surviving member of the 1955 Dodgers World Series team.
Peter O’Malley, whose father Walter owned the Dodgers during Erskine’s career, remarked, “Carl deserved more credit for his role in the Dodgers’ success. He was a stabilizing force among a team of stars. His humility was one of his most cherished qualities.”
In July 2023, Erskine was honored with the Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award by the Baseball Hall of Fame for his positive societal contributions through baseball.
Jane Forbes Clark, Chairman of the Hall of Fame, stated, “Carl was not only a baseball hero but a beacon of compassion and an advocate for the human spirit, deeply impacting his family and countless Special Olympians.”
Born on December 13, 1926, in Anderson, Indiana, Erskine started playing baseball at nine years old. After a brief stint in the Navy during World War II, he was scouted by the Dodgers and started his professional career shortly after his military discharge.
Starting as a reliever, Erskine quickly made his mark, securing 21 wins in his first two seasons. By 1951, he had joined the starting rotation, cementing his legacy as one of the revered “Boys of Summer” alongside teammates like Jackie Robinson and Duke Snider.
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