Carl Erskine, a mainstay of the Brooklyn Dodgers pitching rotation in the 1950s, passed away at 97 after a brief illness. He was part of 'The Boys of Summer,' alongside Jackie Robinson, Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, and Roy Campanella.
Erskine credited Robinson for teaching him important life lessons such as tolerance, patience, and understanding. He was shocked by the racism and mistreatment Robinson faced as the first Black major league player, including death threats and being barred from staying with white teammates in hotels. He noted progress in racial equality, such as a statue of Henry Aaron in a place where Black fans were once segregated.
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