Clayton Kershaw as soon as proclaimed himself a “Dodger for all times” whereas celebrating Los Angeles’ 2024 World Sequence title. And now after his most up-to-date accomplishment, he is secured his place as a baseball legend for all times as effectively.
The 18-year MLB veteran solely recorded three strikeouts in his six-inning begin on Wednesday evening, however that is all he wanted to make historical past. Kershaw’s closing strikeout of the evening was the three,000th of his profession.
When White Sox third baseman Vinny Capra took strike three, it made Kershaw the twentieth member of MLB’s 3,000 strikeout membership.
Kershaw joined a legendary group that features Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Walter Johnson, Gregg Maddux, Nolan Ryan, Pedro Martinez, Steve Carlton, Tom Seaver, Don Sutton, Ferguson Jenkins, Gaylord Perry, Phil Niekro, CC Sabathia, Bob Gibson, Bert Blyleven, Curt Schilling, John Smoltz and the opposite energetic members Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer.
Kershaw then soaked within the second together with his teammates and the one followers he has ever identified earlier than tipping his cap and exiting the sport.
The Dodgers had been trailing Chicago 4-2 within the recreation on the time, as Kershaw allowed 4 runs off 9 hits on the evening. However none of that mattered within the second. What mattered is Kershaw has additional solidified his place, not solely in Dodgers historical past, however as one of many biggest pitchers in baseball historical past.
Los Angeles supervisor Dave Roberts is now even keen to entertain the likelihood that Kershaw is the best pitcher within the historical past of the Dodgers, considered one of baseball’s most storied franchises.
“I believe that for me, clearly, Sandy [Koufax] is Sandy, [Don] Drysdale — I have never [looked at] their numbers. However you are speaking about 18 years, although, and the profession, the physique of labor, it is exhausting to not say Clayton is the best Dodger of all time,” mentioned Roberts when requested about the place Kershaw ranks all-time.
Along with the benchmark strikeout complete, Kershaw, 37, has 216 wins, a quantity that might undoubtedly be greater if not for accidents inflicting him to overlook most of a number of seasons. However to additional present his general brilliance, Kershaw has a 2.51 cumulative ERA and a 1.01 WHIP.
Kershaw is a 10-time Nationwide League All-Star and three-time Cy Younger winner. He even has a Gold Glove and was named the 2014 Nationwide League MVP, a uncommon honor for a pitcher. Past his 3,000 common season strikeouts, Kershaw has 213 within the postseason and 13 playoff wins.
Though the Dodgers gained the World Sequence with out him final postseason, Kershaw was in a position to expertise Los Angeles capturing the franchise’s first championship since 1988, giving him a hoop nobody can deny.
Kershaw is destined for Cooperstown precisely 5 years after he retires as a primary poll Corridor of Famer.
And so far as what number of extra strikeouts Kershaw has left in him earlier than calling it a profession, he now has 32 in 9 begins to this point in 2025.
