One of the last great Brooklyn Baseball players, Carl Erskine, died at the spry age of 97.
Erskine was a part of the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 50s. The team was known at the time as “dem bums”. They were probably called bums because they were so lazy, they only won four pennants and one world series.
The original team name was The Brooklyn Trolly Dodgers. ‘Cuz Brooklyn had trolleys back then. And pedestrians had to dodge them. Or get run over. Which would most likely kill them.
Then in 1958, the team did the unthinkable: they moved to LA. In LA, the team name had absolutely zero meaning. A tradition that continues today.
Erskine had his best season in 1953, when he went 20-6 to lead the National League. He won Game 3 of the World Series, beating the Yankees 3-2 at Ebbets Field. He struck out 14 in a World Series game, a record that was held for 10 years.
So: he was good.
And man, beating the Yankees in a World Series game… that’s gotta feel good.
Erskine’s death leaves the 88-year-old Sandy Koufax (no relation to Sandy Duncan) as the lone surviving player of the 1955 Dodgers. The World Series team was known as “The Boys of Summer” (no relation to Don Henley).
After retiring from Baseball, he moved back to his hometown in Indiana and opened an insurance company.
Sounds like a sad end for a Baseball Hall of Famer. The only thing worse than selling insurance is selling cars.
This hit goes to… well who the hell do you think is gonna have a Brooklyn Dodger on his list? Dave? So Tailgating with Jesus gets another 10 points!
Happy Pooling,
SPMI
Ghoul Pool Administrator
Current Standings:
Team Sushi: 130 – (Joyce Randolph – 10, Anna “Chikadee” Cardwell – 80, Toby Keith – 40)
Tailgating w/ Jesus: 60 – (Peter Angelos – 10, OJ – 40, Whitey Herzog – 10, Carl Erskine – 10)
Toto Lover: 60 – (Eric Montross – 50, Bill Hayes – 10)
Josh: 40 – (Sandra Day O’Connor – 10, Shecky Greene – 10, Louis Gossett, Jr. – 20)
Morrigan’s Mirror: 40 – (Shane MacGowan – 40)
Jami of Normal Voice: 30 – (Frances Sternhagen – 10, M. Emmet Walsh – 20)
송지효!!!: 20 – (Marty Krofft – 20)
Wes: 10 – (Rosalynn Carter – 10)
John Water’s Daughter: 10 – (Chita Rivera – 10)
Rowe Rowe Rowe Your Boat: 10 – (Bill McColl – 10)
Welcome to Ghoul Pool Headquarters 