ANDERSON — Carl Erskine still has vivid memories of his All-Star Game appearance in 1954.

The Anderson High School graduate pitched two-thirds of inning late in the National League’s 11-9 loss to the American League in front of 69,751 fans at Cleveland Stadium.

Representing the Brooklyn Dodgers, Erskine entered in the bottom of the eighth inning with one out and the game tied 9-9. He struck out Mickey Vernon of the Washington Senators with the bases loaded.

But Chicago White Sox second baseman Nellie Fox fisted a 1-1 fastball just to the left side of second base one batter later. NL shortstop Alvin Dark was shading the slap-hitting Fox to the right and couldn’t get to the ball in time to record an out.

With the AL runners moving on contact, two runs crossed the plate.

“The ball hit the dirt and just spun,” Erskine remembered during a phone interview Sunday. “It was the shortest base hit in history. In this 9-9 slugfest, that actually knocked in the winning run.”

Erskine was asked to be an All-Star again in 1955 by Dodgers manager Walter Alston, who was coaching the NL that year, but his arm was too sore and he declined.

No Anderson-born player has competed in an All-Star Game since.

Adam Lind can snap that streak next week in St. Louis.

The former Highland High School star and 2002 Indiana Mr. Baseball Award winner was named Sunday to the All-Star Game: Final Vote list by American League manager Joe Maddon.

Lind, the Toronto Blue Jays’ designated hitter, is joined on the AL list by Los Angeles’ Chone Figgins, Detroit’s Brandon Inge, Texas’ Ian Kinsler and Tampa Bay’s Carlos Pena.

Fans can vote at mlb.com through Thursday at 4 p.m. The player with the most votes at that time will be awarded the final spot on the American League roster.

“It feels cool,” Lind said of the honor by cell phone in the visitors’ clubhouse at the new Yankee Stadium. “I’ll probably get a lot of notoriety from it the next couple of days. I wish I was on the other side, and I didn’t have to worry about it.”

Lind helped his case Sunday by homering for the second consecutive game and driving in a pair of runs during the Blue Jays’ 10-8 loss to the Yankees.

He’s hitting .310 for the season with 18 home runs and 57 RBIs.

“His numbers are solid,” said area Chicago White Sox scout Mike Shirley, who sometimes works with Lind at his Anderson academy during the offseason. “They certainly reflect an All-Star.”

Two of Lind’s teammates, pitcher Roy Halladay and second baseman Aaron Hill, have already been named to the American League roster.

Halladay’s locker was next to Lind’s in New York, and he offered support.

“He wished me luck,” Lind said. “There’s not really anything I can do, just wait. Hopefully, everybody votes for me.”

Toronto has no home games this week. So the Blue Jays will not be able to rally the home fans to vote with in-stadium promotions.

Erskine also worries that Toronto’s relatively low profile in the United States might play against Lind’s chances.

“I hope Adam gets that call,” he said. “But I don’t know how the votes will shake out.”

Current Highland coach Matt Bair took a family vacation this week to Baltimore. The Blue Jays will play the Orioles there this weekend, and Bair has arranged for his sons — Landon, 5, Isaac, 4, and Hogan, 1 — to meet Lind after one of the games.

“He’s a great guy, and he has a great family,” Bair said. “It couldn’t happen to better people.”

Plenty in the local baseball community feel the same way.

“For Adam’s sake, I hope he gets that,” Shirley said. “I know it would be a dream come true for him.”

Bair believes Lind’s accomplishments are something of a dream come true for the city of Anderson. At a time when the community — like much of the country — is struggling to find its footing, the Final Vote provides a point of pride.

“I think it’s amazing,” he said. “I know it means a lot to Highland, but I think it means a ton to the city of Anderson. We’re going through some tough times, but we have somebody in the Final Vote for the All-Star Game. That says something about us. And that’s a good thing.”

Shirley said the nomination speaks well for Lind’s young career.

“It’s so indescribable,” Shirley said. “You have to consider for most players, it’s just a fantasy to play in that game — even for most fans. It reflects on how good a player he is and how hard he works. We’re fortunate to have someone like that in our backyard.”

Lind is resigned to his fate, whatever it might be. He knows there’s little he can do now to affect his chances.

“All I can hope is the whole country (of Canada) votes for me,” he said with a laugh.

Erskine would be happy to see Lind join him as a Major League All-Star.

“I’m not a very good predictor when it comes to baseball,” he said. “But I predicted Adam Lind might have a shot at the All-Star Game this year. I hope that’s one prediction that comes true.”