Clayton Kershaw was the only person on the mound, with an aching left hand clenching the baseball one more time against his hand, as the sound of 55,000 screaming fans faded into the cool night air behind him at Dodger Stadium in a regular-season game.
The 37-year-old Dodgers icon, who had recently informed the world of his retirement, had just given the blow that made his name even more immortal in baseball history – smacking down San Francisco Giants outfielder Heliot Ramos with a vile curveball that cut the outside corner.
His 3,042nd career strikeout made him fight to contain tears, lifting his cap to a wave of blue, as the stadium gave him thunderous applause. Poetically, the Dodgers won their 13th consecutive playoff spot by defeating the Padres 6-3, and Kershaw went off into the future not only as a Hall of Famer-to-be, but also as the architect of their playoff revival.
It was not just a victory, but a coronation
The last home start of Kershaw, on his greatest enemy of all, the Giants, was as written in Hollywood, a mixture of dominance, weakness, and unconstrained delight. As the NL West title was in view and the playoffs were near, it was all about Kershaw, whose 18-year tenure with the Dodgers has become an era.
His teammates mobbed him as confetti showered down after the game, and he was even smiling at the stoic manager Dave Roberts. Everything Clayton has brought us, Roberts told him. “Tonight? He gave us forever.”
The Announcement: A Heartwarming Goodbye Shines through Chavez Ravine
The play started 24 hours ago, on September 18, when Kershaw and his family, coaches and a herd of reporters were rounded up in a sun-filled conference room in Dodger Stadium. Accompanied by his wife, Ellen, and their four children, including a newborn that was in her arms, the voice of the three-time Cy Young winner cracked as he said the words that shocked and disappointed the baseball world: “I am going to call it. I’m going to retire.”
Kershaw, who signed a one-year, $7.5 million contract to work in 2025, with awareness that it could be his swan song, talked of peace during the pain. Ellen and I discussed it interminably. The kids weighed in, too. I am not ashamed of it – it is the opportune moment.
His eyes filled with the list of traumas – tearing a meniscus in 2024 and constant back pains that kept him out of commission during portions of several seasons. However, he smiled when he talked about his 2020 and 2024 World Series victories, the latter one a more peripheral victory after missing the playoffs because of foot surgery.
Key Moments from the Presser:
- The voice break of Kershaw on the word retire where teammates rise to their feet, giving him a standing ovation.
- The touching note of Ellen: “You have pitched with us, now sleep with us.”
- Sandy Koufax, Kershaw’s idol, pays tribute to him in a surprise video: “You not only outshone me, kid. Enjoy the next chapter.”
At the Mound: One Last Time Vintage Kershaw
The game on Friday was a highly anticipated, farewell game at Kershaw Dodger Stadium, which had playoff consequences for both teams. The Giants, who are desperately scrambling to get a Wild Card pass, threw Logan Webb to the mound, yet everyone was looking at the lefty legend as he was throwing in the palm trees. Kershaw came to walk-up song Sweet Caroline – and the scream of the crowd rattled the walls.
He didn’t disappoint. Kershaw was an efficient worker, combining 92-mph fastballs with such a typical curve that stings like a snake…
Pitch-by-Pitch Highlights:
- 1st Inning: Three Ks, the slider to Wade being a nasty one.
- 4th Inning: Chapman homer – Kershaw’s only blemish, but managed to pick off second.
- Final Frame: Duel against Ramos with 12 pitches, which offers a curveball glory.
A Legacy in Numbers: Unrivalled Dodgers Dominion of Kershaw
The career of Kershaw is a book of records of achievements…
| Category | Kershaw (Career) | MLB Rank (Active) | Dodgers Record |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wins | 222 | 3rd | 1st |
| Strikeouts | 3,042 | 5th | 1st |
| ERA (Live Ball Era) | 2.54 | 1st | 1st |
| WAR (Pitchers) | 77.6 | 2nd | 1st |
| Cy Young Awards | 3 | Tied 2nd | 1st |
| All-Star Selections | 11 | Tied 3rd | 1st |
Colleagues and Competitors: Tributes Flood In Playoff Hope
The clubhouse was a hugging and highlighting melee after the game… Even Giants players were not left out of the adoration; Ramos, who had been struck by the last K, was seeking Kershaw out to shake his hand: “An honour, man. Pure class.”
Playoff Stakes: Dodgers Are Seeking Redemption, Last Dance with Kershaw
This was not a mere sentimental triumph, but a tremendous one. The win guaranteed the Dodgers a place in the playoffs… his send-off is a matter of urgency: This October may become his redemption story.
Upcoming Dodgers Slate:
- Sept. 21: vs. Giants (RHP Bobby Miller vs. LHP Kyle Harrison).
- Sept. 23: vs. Rockies (Wild Card pre-rest).
- Oct. 1: Possible Wild Card game – Padres or Mets.
The Other Side of the Diamond: The Lifelong Influence of Kershaw
The story by Kershaw evades the statistics. He is a religious Christian who has given millions of dollars to the Kershaw Wells Challenge… “This is home, this place and these people, it is home,” he said to Ellen. The playoffs await, but on this one night, Dodger Stadium was Kershaw Stadium. On a game of short-lived glory, his last strikeout makes his fire shine forever.