Erskine turns 80 in hospital [Archive]

ColtscorrAL

12-15-2006, 01:06 PM

Glad to report it's serious nothing serious. Happy Birthday Carl. :)
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ANDERSON, Ind. -- Carl Erskine ushered in his 80th birthday on a hospital gurney. Hours later, he was singing and playing his harmonica in a church.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061215/SPORTS/612150529/0/LOCAL0402

DODGER DEB

12-15-2006, 02:15 PM

Glad to report it's serious nothing serious. Happy Birthday Carl. :)
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ANDERSON, Ind. -- Carl Erskine ushered in his 80th birthday on a hospital gurney. Hours later, he was singing and playing his harmonica in a church.

http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061215/SPORTS/612150529/0/LOCAL0402

Thanks for posting the info, ColtscorrAL.

Glad "Mr. 17" (as we call him) is OK!

c.

Paulmcall

12-15-2006, 06:51 PM

I talked with him (by phone) a few years ago and I have to agree with many others that he is a great guy. He's been a great example of what ex-athletes should try to do with their lives after retiring. He started a new career in his hometown and raised his disabled son with his loving wife.
One of the kindest and warmest person around.

buckoneill4HOF

12-27-2006, 08:48 PM

agreed, paulmcall. a gentleman of the finest order

55 chmps

01-05-2007, 05:05 PM

I met him at a Brooklyn Cyclones game and he was there signing autographs with Ed Roebuck, Shotgun Shuba, and Clem Labine about 2 years ago. He was the nicest man i have ever met. On a line of hundreds of people he took time to shake my hand and talk baseball and about the old Brooklyn Dodgers with me. I never had such an experience in my life and i'm takin it to the grave with me. Fantastic to hear that he is well.

VIBaseball

01-11-2009, 10:16 AM

This life-size statue of Oisk by sculptor Ken Ryden is on display in Erksine's and Ryden's hometown of Anderson, Indiana. The link doesn't take you directly to the picture, but it's easy to spot in the gallery, then click to enlarge:

http://www.rydenarts.com/glframeset.html

KCGHOST

01-12-2009, 08:30 AM

Glad to hear all is well.

Michael Green

01-12-2009, 09:48 AM

I'm glad he's doing all right. We have a mutual friend who very kindly got me his autographed picture. From all I have ever head about him, he is a lovely man.

Indianapolis Indians

01-12-2009, 09:52 AM

I went to a speech Erskine gave a few years back at Franklin College in Franklin, Indiana and he is really a great man. It was amazing to go and meet not only a great pitcher but also someone who played on one of the great teams of all time. He also was kind enough to give me his home address so I could mail him items to sign.

VIBaseball

09-07-2009, 02:43 PM

I talked with him (by phone) a few years ago and I have to agree with many others that he is a great guy. He's been a great example of what ex-athletes should try to do with their lives after retiring. He started a new career in his hometown and raised his disabled son with his loving wife.
One of the kindest and warmest person around.

Carl obviously still continues to view the Special Olympics as a special cause:

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-in-erskine-benefit,0,6130634.story

I wonder how Jimmy Erskine, his son with Down's, is doing.
One other thing I never knew before this article was that Oisk had musical ability. He apparently plays harmonica.