Legendary Brooklyn Dodgers Pitcher Died On Tuesday Morning

BROOKLYN – 1956: Brooklyn Dodger Carl Erskine and Brooklyn Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley on May 15, 1956 at Ebbets Field. (Sports Studio Photos/Getty Images) Sports Studio Photos/Getty Images

An icon of the 1950s Brooklyn Dodgers reportedly passed away on Tuesday morning.

According to IndyStar.com, former All-Star pitcher and World Series champion Carl Erskine lost his life at the age of 97 after battling a brief illness.

The baseball legend played alongside Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson and Gil Hodges, threw the first televised no-hitter and was viewed as a stalwart for human rights.

Affectionately nicknamed “Oisk” by fans at Ebbets Field, Erskine pitched in five World Series and won six National League pennants — highlighted by a then-record 14-strikeout performance against the Yankees in 1953.

Away from the diamond, he was someone who staunchly fought for racial equality and the rights of those with special needs. In a statement on Erskine’s death, Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels said:

You didn’t have to be a lifelong Dodger fan to be a huge fan of Carl Erskine and the remarkable character with which he led his life. … When asked by his documentary filmmakers to sum him up, I blurted out ‘He’s the best we’ve got.’ I can’t improve on that and, like millions, I’ll miss him very much.

Erskine was born in Anderson, Indiana where he attended both high school and college before signing with the Dodgers at the age of 19. After spending the majority of his career in Brooklyn, he pitched in the home opener for the Dodgers following their move to LA.

Erskine retired from baseball in 1959 and returned to Indiana where he and his wife, Betty, raised four children.