My Proudest and Most Memorable Moment in College
- Branton Sanders
- Sep 28, 2020
- 2 min read
Every year at Anderson University, the school awards one senior baseball player with the Carl Erskine Award of Excellence. This prestigious award is given to a senior player who most exemplified excellence academically, athletically, and in their community throughout their college career. The award is named after a legend in the Anderson community, Carl Erskine. Carl was a starting pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1948-1959 where he was teammates with Jackie Robinson, won five National League pennants, and set a World Series record for strikeouts in a single game (1953). After his playing career, he went on to coach at Anderson College where he led the Ravens baseball team to four conference championships and to the NAIA World Series in 1965. Carl still resides in Anderson, Indiana with his wife Betty, who he’s been married to for 72 years.
Last year, I had the extreme honor of being chosen by my coaches and University to be the recipient of the 2019 Carl Erskine Award of Excellence. Having the opportunity to meet Carl and listen to his stories was incredible. The man is full of wisdom and has lived an amazing life, so I felt extremely fortunate to be receiving an award that was dedicated in his name. There was a wonderful banquet organized where I was able to enjoy lunch with my family and closest friends and then afterwards give a speech in front of everyone. I still remember going to the bathroom several times before the speech to make sure my tie was straight, rehearse what I had prepared for the hundredth time, and pray that I could deliver my words exactly how I wanted. I was extremely nervous, but I felt so honored to be recognized, and I wanted to make sure I was able to give thanks where it was due to all of the amazing people that helped me get to the position I was in. I wouldn’t be the man I am today without the endless love and support from my family and friends, the coaches and teammates that pushed me to develop into a better baseball player, and for God providing me with the opportunities he did.
This award also served as a nice testament to the countless hours of work I had put in throughout my college career in the classroom, in the weight room, and on the baseball field, further reinforcing my belief that hard work truly does pay off. Being recognized for the time and effort that I dedicated every single day was a great feeling and it motivated me to work even harder to become the best possible player, leader, friend and teammate.
The write up of the award ceremony from the Herald Bulletin is provided in the link below:
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