Former Dodgers Pitcher Carl Erskine Dies at 97; Won World Series, Threw 2 No-Hitters

Former Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Carl Erskine, a World Series winner on the field and a humanitarian off it, has died at the age of 97.

The Dodgers released a statement Tuesday confirming the news on Erskine, who was the last surviving member of the "Boys of Summer" teams from the 1940s and 1950s.

"The Dodgers mourn the passing of one of the team's all-time greats, Carl Erskine, at the age of 97. Carl was an All-Star, a World Series Champion, a true ally to Jackie Robinson and more in the pursuit of equality, and a pioneering advocate for those with special needs, inspired by his son, Jimmy. We send our sincere sympathies and best wishes to his family."

Erskine's family revealed that he died at Anderson Community Hospital in Indiana after a brief illness, per Dana Hunsinger Benbow of the Indianapolis Star.

Erskine pitched for the Dodgers from 1948 to 1959. During Erskine's tenure, the Dodgers won one World Series (1955) and five National League pennants (1949, 1952, 1953, 1955 and 1956).

Erskine pitched in his final game in June 1959. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series that season.

He finished his career with a 122-78 record and a 4.00 ERA (1.33 WHIP). Erskine also ended ninth in the NL MVP vote after winning 20 games and posting 187 strikeouts for the 1953 Dodgers. Erskine earned an All-Star Game appearance the following season en route to an 18-win year.

The right-hander appeared in five World Series. His best effort occurred in 1953, when he struck out 14 New York Yankees batters in a complete-game victory to seal a 3-2 win in Game 3. His 14 K's are third-best all-time for strikeouts in a single World Series game, behind only Bob Gibson of the 1968 St. Louis Cardinals and Sandy Koufax of the 1963 Dodgers.

Erskine's no-hitters occurred against the Chicago Cubs on June 19, 1952, and the then-New York Giants on May 12, 1956.

Off the field, Erskine spent much of his life both volunteering and fundraising as well as raising awareness for the Special Olympics. His youngest child, Jimmy, was born with Down syndrome in 1960 and participated in Special Olympics events for 50 years.

Last year, Erskine won the "Buck" O'Neil Lifetime Achievement Award, given by the Baseball Hall of Fame "to an individual for extraordinary efforts to enhance baseball's positive impact on society." He is one of just six people to win the honor.

In 2022, Ted Green made a documentary film about Erskine's life on and off the diamond, entitled, "The Best We've Got: The Carl Erskine Story."

"Carl Erskine has helped to affect such massive change through humility, through grace, through human leadership," Green said, per the Indianapolis Star.

"He has spent his lifetime propping up others."

And that's how Erskine, the last of the Boys of Summer, will ultimately be remembered.