This commentary is by Sam Liss of Sunderland, a university professor who teaches on a master’s and doctoral level, former disability advocate and transplanted Brooklynite who has lived in Vermont for 23-plus years. He’s also a freelance writer.
On June 14, the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame, based in Cooperstown, New York, announced that Carl Erskine was awarded the John Jordan “Buck” O’Neil Award for overall extraordinary contributions during a lifetime to the game of baseball and, by extension, to all of society.
This very special award recognizes “off-the-field” contributions related to ethics, spirit of social justice and to opportunity for all.
Carl Erskine, who was affectionately known as “Oisk” during his playing days for the Brooklyn (and later Los Angeles) Dodgers, was an excellent pitcher. He pitched 14 shutouts and two no-hitters, and was a member of two World Series-winning Dodger teams.
However, Carl’s greatness transcended his feats on the playing field. He may not have grabbed the headlines in the manner that did Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Roy Campanella or Pee Wee Reese, but his steadfast dedication to social justice and ethical and moral values — themes that followed him throughout his life — has shone and paid numerous dividends.
By nature a soft-spoken and kind Hoosier, he, along with teammate Gil Hodges, quietly but staunchly supported Jackie Robinson as baseball ended its segregational policies. More than that, Carl was a founding member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, as well as of the Baseball Assistance Program, supporting those retired players in need (prior to the astronomical rise in player salaries).
What may be lesser known is Carl’s devotion to his son, Jimmy, born with Down syndrome, who has lived a productive, employed and dignified life due to his father’s encouragement and support. By extension, perhaps, Carl has been instrumental in founding and subsequent support of the Special Olympics, carrying with him his humanitarianism and spirit of opportunity for all.
Probably the most remarkable, if somewhat unsung, of author Roger Kahn’s “Boys of Summer,” Carl Daniel Erskine, a very humble, modest man who will talk to one as if he/she were his “next-door neighbor,” deserves such a recognition (and more). Carl, who has maintained his home in Anderson, Indiana, throughout his life and will turn 97 years of age this coming December, will be honored formally July 23 in Cooperstown during Hall of Fame award ceremonies.
As a transplanted Brooklynite, I was thrilled when my “neighbor,” Gil Hodges — ironically, a transplanted Hoosier — was belatedly but deservedly inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame last year. Frankly, I thought such thrills relating to my boyhood days of Brooklyn Dodger “fanaticism” had ended. However, I was surprised and further thrilled to learn that “Oisk” was (and will be) so rightly recognized and honored during his lifetime.
Amid the horrific news of the chaos of our time, a story about such an outstanding person should not escape our attention.
