Last Friday, one of the greatest pitchers of the modern era stepped off the rubber for the final time. Clayton Kershaw officially announced his retirement, closing the book on an 18-year career spent entirely in Dodger blue.
Kershaw’s résumé speaks for itself: 3x Cy Young Awards, an MVP, a Triple Crown, 10 All-Star nods, 5x ERA titles, and 2x World Series rings that cement his place in baseball history. He retires with over 200 wins, 3,000 strikeouts, and a 2.54 career ERA. At his peak, with Kershaw was on the bump, it felt like a guaranteed Dodger win.
From the moment he debuted as a 20-year-old phenom in 2008 to his final regular season start last week, Kershaw’s legacy has been about more than just numbers. He was the face of consistency for the Dodgers, a leader in the clubhouse through good times and bad, and a player who will be remembered as the epitome of pitching excellence in the 21st century. Generations of kids will want to throw a curve like Kersh.
The Hobby Wire wants to take a moment to tip our cap to Clayton Kershaw—a generational talent, a competitor to the end, and a career we won’t soon forget.