Chronicling Carl: New Documentary To Profile Anderson Legend Carl Erskine
BY ZACH WADLEY ’14
4 MIN. READ
To conjure up an image of what America looked like midway through the 20th century is to see the Brooklyn Dodgers’ famous Boys of Summer — immortalized by Roger Kahn in his 1972 classic — and 1955 World Series champions, defining an era of American history.
Baseball was king in the 50s and New York City was its castle. The mighty Yankees had long since established themselves as baseball’s gold standard; the Giants boasted Willie Mays and had been a mainstay since 1883; and the Brooklyn Dodgers had finally found success after decades of toiling around at the bottom of the standings.
But time is always the unbeatable enemy and The Boys of Summer are in the distant past. The Dodgers’ Ebbets Field is long gone, replaced by a forgettable apartment complex. Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, and other heroes of yesteryear have left us, their tombstones and Hall of Fame plaques silently preserving their memory.
While the era of baseball bliss in the 50s fades, not all is lost. Sitting in Anderson, Indiana, is the final living member of The Boys of Summer: Mr. Carl Erskine ’84. While the legend of Erskine is well-known around central Indiana, he’s now coming to the big screen.
The Best We’ve Got: The Carl Erskine Story is set to premier in August 2022 under the guidance of renowned filmmaker, Ted Green. The documentary will look at Erskine’s life, including his time with the Dodgers, work with Special Olympics, and his home in Anderson.
Green, an Indianapolis resident, has made it his mission to profile some of Indiana’s greatest heroes. He’s already completed documentaries on former Indiana Pacers’ great Bobby “Slick” Leonard, as well as Holocaust survivor Eva Kor, and legendary UCLA basketball coach John Wooden. He’s now taking on the project of profiling Erskine — a man who has lived a life of service every step of the way.
“With Carl there is so much to explore,” said Green. “There’s baseball; there’s his work and friendships with Jackie Robinson and Johnny Wilson; there’s his work with the Special Olympics. There are so many different buckets brimming with incredible information.”
Green feels “privileged beyond words” to work on the project, and like his past documentaries, this one will consist of two years worth of work to research, film, and edit. When the finished product is ready, he hopes to host the premier at the Paramount Theater in downtown Anderson before the film heads to local PBS channels and streaming services.
It would take pages upon pages to illustrate Erskine’s work and the lives he has changed, but perhaps nothing so succinctly describes the man as does the documentary’s title. Needing a name for his film, Green decided on a quote from former Indiana governor, Mitch Daniels. While presenting Erskine with the 2010 Sachem Award — the state’s highest honor — at a ceremony at the State House on March 2, Daniels said he was frequently asked by people from around the country: “What is a Hoosier, exactly?” In answer to this question, Daniels nodded in Erskine’s direction and told the crowd, “This man right here is the best we’ve got.”
The high praise from Daniels is shared by many, including those who played for Erskine during his 12 seasons as the Anderson College (University) Ravens’ baseball manager. Don Brandon ’63 enjoyed a standout career on the diamond while at AU, finishing as a two-time All-Conference selection. In 1972, Brandon succeeded his former coach and mentor, and over 38 years racked up the most wins in Raven history, along with over two dozen Coach of the Year awards.
“When I was a 12-year-old farm boy in Alabama and a diehard Brooklyn Dodgers fan, Carl Erskine struck out 14 of the mighty Yankees in the third game of the 1953 World Series,” said Brandon. “My older brother was in his freshman year at Anderson College at the time, studying for pastoral ministry, and later on told me that Erskine lived in Anderson and that he was Christian. Erskine became my hero.”
“I ended up playing three years for Coach,” continued Brandon “I was a sponge that soaked up everything Coach said and taught. When I was not in the game I sat by him. Here was my hero that had an abundance of baseball knowledge and all I had to do is listen and ask. It is a pleasure for me to say that I am an extension of Carl Erskine, Branch Rickey, and the Dodger way.”
At the same time Brandon was guiding the Raven baseball team, Denny Lehnus ’65 was patrolling the sidelines as head coach of the AU men’s basketball team. Lehnus had put together a legendary coaching career at Kankakee Community College prior to his time at AU, and like Brandon, felt the impact of Erskine’s teachings after playing for him from 1961–65.
“He touched the lives of so many people in so many areas of life,” said Lehnus. “He showed me how to have class, and he exuded class. He showed me it was possible to be successful with quiet leadership. He showed me that integrity was more important than wins, and he showed me humility.”
Erskine is 94 now. His hair is white, his voice is soft, and he hasn’t thrown his famous curveball in quite some time, but he still has a story to tell. Lucky for the rest of us, his story is set to be immortalized.
Anderson University is on a mission to educate students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 60 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 20 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult and graduate programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized among top colleges for its business, computer science, cybersecurity, dance, engineering, nursing, and teacher education programs. Anderson University was established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God.