Danielle Solzman
The Best We’ve Got: The Carl Erskine Story is a wonderful documentary that ensures Carl Erskine’s legacy will never be forgotten. Erskine became the sixth recipient of the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Buck O’Neil Lifetime Achievement Award in 2023—a coda covers the Hall of Fame Induction Weekend festivities and Jane Forbes Clark and Josh Rawitch’s visit to the Erskine household two months later.
“He is living a perfect game.” – Vin Scully
When Erskine died in April 2024, he was the last surviving member of the Boys of Summer. He pitched over a decade with the Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1940s and 1950s. The team featured Baseball Hall of Famers in Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese, Roy Campanella. Johnny Podres and Don Newcombe were other core members of the team. The Dodgers won the 1955 World Series and took home five National League pennants while Erskine was on the team.
Erskine was a part of so much baseball history. However, there is so much more to his life than tales from the Golden Age of Baseball. His life is equally compelling for what he did after retiring from the Dodgers in as much as his baseball career. Erskine had a front row view of Jackie and his fight for civil rights. He would later invite Jackie to join the fight for people with special needs. Carl and Betty Erskine’s son, Jimmy, was born with Down Syndrome during an era where people didn’t look kindly on those with such disabilities. In fact, filmmaker Ted Green spends a good portion on the history of eugenics—especially in Indiana—and its later role in inspiring the Holocaust.
Erskine played a huge role with the Special Olympics and flew across the country. On top of that, there’s also the Wildcat League. Erskine was involved early on with the organization and the league remains a leader for youth sports.
Jackie is just one part of the story. Another part is what transpired in Anderson, Ind. between Erskine and Jumpin’ Johnny Wilson. We learn about their friendship. Wilson captained the high school basketball team but was denied an opportunity to play for Indiana because of the racist policies at the time. Erskine helped raise the money to make the statue happen. dedicated to both athletes in the city. That race wasn’t a barrier to their friendship speaks to who Erskine was as a person. Both have statues in Anderson and a new mural was dedicated this year.
Trust me, you won’t have a dry eye by the end of the documentary especially once they start talking about the fan mail that Erskine received because of being one of the last living teammates of Jackie Robinson. I’ll let Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Costas take it from here because he says it so eloquently:
“How can you not feel blessed to have been witness to an enduring part of American history and he can honestly say that man was my friend.”
DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Ted Green
NARRATOR: Charley Steiner
FEATURING: Carl Erskine, Betty Erskine, Gary Erskine, Susan Erskine, Tim Shriver, Vin Scully, Bob Costas, Branch Rickey III, Jack McCallum, Peter Vecsey, Peter Golenbock, John Wilson Jr., Mitch Daniels, Bob “Slick” Leonard, Shane Williamson, Dr. Allison Carey
The Best We’ve Got: The Carl Erskine Story held its world premiere on August 11, 2022. It is available on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital. Grade: 4/5
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