Final yr, in the course of a World Collection celebration he had spent twenty years dreaming about, Clayton Kershaw took the mic at Dodger Stadium and made a declaration.
“I love you guys, thank you!” he shouted to an adoring Chavez Ravine crowd.
“Dodger for life!”
On Thursday, that distinction was cemented.
After 18 seasons, three Cy Younger Awards, an MVP, greater than 3,000 strikeouts and two World Collection titles, Kershaw introduced he’ll retire from Main League Baseball after this season.
Kershaw’s announcement, which got here in a press launch from the workforce, preceded what may now be his closing Dodger Stadium begin scheduled for Friday evening.
That recreation will mark his 246th time taking the bump on the solely ballpark he has ever referred to as residence. Relying on what occurs in October, when Kershaw will make yet another run at yet another championship, it could possibly be his final.
After 222 wins, greater than 2,800 innings, and a profession 2.54 ERA, his countdown to Cooperstown will start this winter.
After serving because the face of the franchise throughout one of the crucial profitable runs in membership historical past, the e book will lastly be closing on his illustrious Dodgers profession.
Kershaw’s retirement had been a very long time coming. Over every of the previous 4 offseasons, he contemplated whether or not or to not stroll away from the sport. An 11-time All-Star and five-time ERA champion, he way back ensured his spot as a future Corridor of Fame pitcher. Because the franchise’s all-time strikeout chief, his place in membership lore had already been enshrined.
But, the 37-year-old Kershaw by no means misplaced his need to play.
Regardless of an elbow damage on the finish of the 2021 season, a shoulder surgical procedure after the 2023 marketing campaign, and foot and knee procedures this previous offseason, he got here again to proceed his Dodgers profession — by no means prepared to surrender one other title chase.
This yr, he has authored the form of renaissance season that when felt past him. He’s 10-2 in 20 begins with a 3.53 ERA, succeeding regardless of diminished fastball velocity and a decline in total stuff. He has been an integral member of a first-place Dodgers workforce. And although yet another postseason run lies forward, with the Dodgers attempting to defend final yr’s World Collection title, he determined his time in baseball was lastly up.
“On behalf of the Dodgers, I congratulate Clayton on a fabulous career and thank him for the many moments he gave to Dodger fans and baseball fans everywhere, as well as for all of his profound charitable endeavors,” Dodgers proprietor Mark Walter mentioned within the workforce’s launch. “His is a truly legendary career, one that we know will lead to his induction in the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Originally drafted seventh overall by the Dodgers out of Highland Park High School in Texas in 2006, Kershaw has spent the entirety of his professional life in the organization, going from top prospect to young sensation to Cy Young winner to pitcher of his generation.
He made his MLB debut in 2008, and broke out as a star the following year. By 2011, he had earned his first All-Star selection, his first ERA title and his first Cy Young Award. The accolades would keep coming after that — with Kershaw leading the majors in ERA each season from 2011-2014, winning two more Cy Youngs in 2013 and 2014, and becoming only only the 22nd pitcher to ever win MVP honors with his 21-3, 1.77-ERA season in that historic 2014 campaign.
The back half of Kershaw’s career was plagued by injuries, starting with a bad back that sidelined him for part of 2016.
Still, he earned another ERA title in 2017, while helping the Dodgers win their first pennant in 29 years. He had a resurgent performance in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, going 6-2 in the regular season with a 2.16 ERA before finally experiencing a World Series title.
Up to that point, the postseason was the only area were Kershaw struggled. In 32 playoff outings from 2008-2019, he was 9-11 with a 4.43 ERA — mediocre numbers underscored by excruciating collapses against the St. Louis Cardinals and Houston Astros and Washington Nationals along the way.
But in 2020, Kershaw vanquished such demons, making five starts and going 4-1 with a 2.93 ERA in the Dodgers’ first victorious World Series run since 1998. The title, Kershaw has said since, meant more than even he could have ever imagined.
“I think having that [World Series] definitely started letting me relax a little bit more,” Kershaw mentioned in 2023. “I didn’t realize I had been carrying that weight that much.”
And as soon as he received it as soon as, the notoriously aggressive left-hander craved to do it once more.
That’s why, at the same time as his physique has continued to interrupt down lately, Kershaw saved coming again each spring. He believed, when wholesome, he may nonetheless contribute to a World Collection roster. And regardless of quite a few free-agent flirtations along with his hometown Texas Rangers, he all the time noticed the Dodgers as one of the best ways to get there.
It made final yr’s World Collection title a sentimental one for the long-lasting left-hander. Kershaw was a restricted participant, making solely seven begins within the common season earlier than lacking the playoffs along with his foot and knee issues. However he relished within the celebration, particularly the title-winning parade that the 2020 workforce had been denied by the pandemic.
He knew then that he can be a Dodger for all times.
On Thursday, it lastly grew to become official.
