"Brooklyn Dodgers Pitching Legend Carl Erskine Passes Away at 97"
Carl Erskine, the last surviving member of the celebrated Brooklyn Dodgers team known as the "Boys of Summer," has died at 97. As a standout pitcher, he played a key role in breaking baseball's racial barrier with Jackie Robinson and became an anchor of the Brooklyn pitching staff during the team's heyday in the 1940s and 1950s. Erskine's personal history and strong bond with Robinson made him one of the player's strongest allies on the team. After retiring from baseball, he became a prominent figure in Indiana, leading efforts to improve the treatment of children and others with disabilities.