Carl Daniel Erskine
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Carl Daniel Erskine, born December 13, 1926, passed away on April 16, 2024, at the age of 97. What a life he lived! Born and raised in Anderson, IN, Carl lived a life full of faith and love – love for God, his “Best Bet,” Betty Erskine, whom he was married to for 76 years, his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and countless others whose lives he touched.
Found in his Bible was Carl’s handwritten note with the words he lived by: “Resolve to be tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant with the weak and the wrong – because sometime in your life, you will have been all of these.” George Washington Carver
A graduate of Anderson High School, Carl served in the United States Navy for two years before embarking on a fourteen-year professional baseball career with the Dodgers. He played two years in the minor leagues, ten years in Brooklyn, and two years in Los Angeles, even pitching the Dodgers’ first game on the West Coast in 1958 when the team moved to LA. With a lifetime record of 122 wins and 78 losses, Carl threw two no-hitters – one against the Cubs in 1952 and a second against the Giants in 1956. He had two World Series wins against the Yankees and held the World Series strikeout record of 14 when facing the Yankees in 1953, the year in which he had a 20-6 record. Carl was the Dodger Player Representative for eight seasons, participated in five World Series and then retired from professional baseball in 1959.
Upon retirement from baseball, Carl began his insurance and banking careers in Anderson, eventually serving as the president of STAR Bank and the chairman of the Indiana Banker’s Association. He wasn’t done with baseball yet, though. Carl went on to coach the Anderson College (now Anderson University) baseball team from 1960 to 1973, leading the team to four championships and earning him Coach of the Year honors in 1965.
A devoted member of First Baptist Church in Anderson for over 70 years, Carl served as a deacon, trustee, and Sunday school teacher. He was also a founding member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA), and played an early role in the development and growth of Special Olympics at the national level, also volunteering locally for more than 50 years. More recently, Carl and Betty were honored to be recognized in the naming of the Erskine Green Training Institute in Muncie.
Together, Carl and Betty, alongside other devoted parents, were founders of the Hopewell Center, serving individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities. His legacy of service also included being a founding member of the Leadership Academy of Madison County, a trustee of Anderson University, trustee and chairman of St. John’s Hospital, and a member of several other boards and committees both locally and nationally, including Major League Baseball’s Baseball Assistance Team serving former major league players.
Carl was awarded the Sagamore of the Wabash three times and former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels presented him with the Indiana Sachem Award in 2010. He is a member of both the Indiana and New York Baseball Hall of Fames; and just last year, he was awarded the highly coveted Buck O’Neill Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to society outside baseball from The National Baseball Hall of Fame. In March of this year, Carl was awarded the Richard G. Lugar Award for Distinguished Service by the IHSAA.
Faith, family, baseball, and music. Wherever Carl was, there was music, a true love of his. Whether he was listening, singing, or playing the guitar, banjo, or harmonica, music brought him and those around him so much comfort and joy. From playing for his grandchildren to playing our national anthem at ballgames to playing alongside his beloved local band, his smile, quick wit, and talent entertained us all. Never one to be idle, Carl also loved woodworking in his shop, and his love and gift of storytelling and being grateful for each day even inspired him to author three books: Tales from the Dodger Dugout, What I Learned from Jackie Robinson, and The Parallel.
Carl, a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather, led a life of faith with and for his family. He is survived by his wife, Betty (Palmer) whom he married on October 5, 1947; sons, Danny (Pam) of Anderson and Gary (Beth) of Pendleton; daughter, Susan (John) Short of Albany, GA; five grandchildren, Dannae (Mark) Witcher, Abby (Brad) Franklin, Amy (Jed) Daniel, Luke (Susie) Short, Megan Stephenson; and eleven great grandchildren, Julianna, Palmer, Seth, Brennen, Sydney, Eli, Carrel, Allen, Brooklyn, Charlotte and Sadie, all of whom adore him. He is also survived by sister-in-law, Cheryl Palmer, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Matt and Bertha Erskine, in-laws, Lowell and Lula Belle Palmer; brothers, Lloyd and Donald Erskine; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Robert and Jeanie Phillips, and beloved son, James Lee Erskine, who passed away November 25, 2023. What a beautiful reunion they have had in heaven.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt gratitude to the amazing outpouring of love and support they have received from friends near and far in the last few days. Special thanks to the Primrose family, Merry Melton, and the Legacy Home Care family. We love and appreciate you all.
Well done, good and faithful servant.
Your legacy will live on and multiply in all those whose lives you have touched
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.