The Online Reflector

Former major league baseball player and native Hoosier Carl Erskine took the UIndy Hall platform on March 29 to speak with University of Indianapolis students about his experiences accepting diversity during his time as a baseball player.

President Beverley Pitts’ husband, Bill Pitts, who is a longtime friend of Erskine, preceded the speech with a quick introduction.

Both Bill and Erskine were raised in Anderson, Ind. Erskine has moved back to his hometown since his retirement.

Bill began his introduction by listing Erskine’s many accomplishments, including receiving the Indiana Sachem Award in 2010 for his devoted work in the community.

Bill also mentioned Erskine’s many contributions to baseball as a right-handed pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Erskine’s 12 year major league career produced a World Series ring, two no-hitters and one 20-win season. But according to Bill, these accomplishments serve as  a backdrop to Erskine’s exemplary character.

“His reputation went way beyond being a great baseball player,” Bill said. “He was kind of a gentleman’s gentleman.”

Erskine’s speech was a combination of reminiscent storytelling and encouragement to the audience to accept people’s differences.

The stories and their applications went hand-in-hand with most of his anecdotes focused on knowing and playing with Jackie Robinson.

Robinson was the first African-American baseball player to play in the major leagues and is considered a part of baseball history and American history.

Erskine explained to the audience that everyone adds to history every day and cited Robinson’s most famous quote, “A life is not important except in the impact it has on others’ lives.”

Robinson and Erskine played predominantly in the 1950s, which was just before the civil rights movement in the United States.

Dodgers Manager Branch Rickey selected Robinson to desegregate the game of baseball.

Erskine’s opinion is that Robinson started the momentum for the civil rights movement.

Just as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. did a century later, Robinson kept a nonviolent attitude about the racist comments that fans and opposing teams hurled at him.

“The word people tend to kick around is class,” Erskine said. “He was very polished. He was genuine. What he was, he said he was. What he did, he said he did.”

The desegregation of baseball and Robinson’s strength in the midst of adversity proved to be an exemplary lesson for Erskine later in life. Erskine related the story of his son Jimmy, who was born with Down syndrome.

Erskine drew parallels between Robinson’s and Jimmy’s situations in society. Both were denied privileges due to people’s prejudice. But just as Robinson had seen change slowly evolve on the baseball field and in the United States, Jimmy and his parents saw change progress for those with special needs.

“I think Jackie’s momentum is still here. When Jimmy wins a gold medal, I think Jackie had something to do with it,” Erskine said. “For people like Jimmy, it was a few centuries that people were misunderstood.”

Erskine encourages globalization rather than harboring any suspicions people may have about those who are different. Assistant Director of Athletics for Compliance Kelley Kish believes this message has been conveyed repeatedly on the UIndy campus with the theme of this year’s lecture series.

“His message fits right in with the diversity lecture series,” said “We try to stress that his message is not just about baseball.”

Kish acted as liaison between Erskine and the UIndy athletics program. Following his speech, a private luncheon was hosted for representatives from each sport.

Erskine concluded his speech by reminding the audience of the effect they can have.

“People won’t remember what we did or what we said,” he said. “But everyone will remember how we made them feel.”