Erskine Special Speaker At Monday MLK Commemoration
January 13, 2017 at 6:49 p.m.
By Staff Report-
Erskine was born and still lives in Anderson. He played baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the late 1940s and 1950s. He pitched two no-hitters, and was a critical part of the 1955 World Series Champion Dodgers. During this time in professional baseball, Erskine became a key part of the integration of baseball with Jackie Robinson, a black Major League Baseball player who broke through the color barrier.
Erskine was a close friend of Robinson’s and still is very close with the Robinson family. Erskine also has become a huge advocate for Special Olympics. His son, Jimmy, was born with Down syndrome. Erskine retired from baseball to properly care for his family and Jimmy. Erskine is one of the original voices behind inclusion of special needs students and still advocates on their behalf, the release states.
He authored a book titled “What I Learned from Jackie Robinson.” Erskine will be sharing his story on MLK Day, Monday, at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center on the Grace College campus.
Doors open at 11 a.m., and the program starts at 11:30 a.m. Warsaw Community Schools students will be participating in the JROTC presentation of the colors, the presentation of the CCMLK scholarship, art displays and a performance of songs by choir students.
Grace College and Grace President Bill Katip are hosting the event.
All are welcome and invited to attend this free community event. Lunch will be provided to the first 500 in attendance.
Erskine was born and still lives in Anderson. He played baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the late 1940s and 1950s. He pitched two no-hitters, and was a critical part of the 1955 World Series Champion Dodgers. During this time in professional baseball, Erskine became a key part of the integration of baseball with Jackie Robinson, a black Major League Baseball player who broke through the color barrier.
Erskine was a close friend of Robinson’s and still is very close with the Robinson family. Erskine also has become a huge advocate for Special Olympics. His son, Jimmy, was born with Down syndrome. Erskine retired from baseball to properly care for his family and Jimmy. Erskine is one of the original voices behind inclusion of special needs students and still advocates on their behalf, the release states.
He authored a book titled “What I Learned from Jackie Robinson.” Erskine will be sharing his story on MLK Day, Monday, at the Manahan Orthopaedic Capital Center on the Grace College campus.
Doors open at 11 a.m., and the program starts at 11:30 a.m. Warsaw Community Schools students will be participating in the JROTC presentation of the colors, the presentation of the CCMLK scholarship, art displays and a performance of songs by choir students.
Grace College and Grace President Bill Katip are hosting the event.
All are welcome and invited to attend this free community event. Lunch will be provided to the first 500 in attendance.
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