Kershaw grew up in Highland Park, Texas, and attended school with quarterback Matthew Stafford. Clayton Kershaw pushed the weighted sled 70 feet through the well-tended grass of his home's side yard, his legs churning as he passed the plastic kiddie slide. [55] Midway through June, Kershaw had amassed 32 career victories, a 3.15 ERA and 593 career strikeouts in 568.2 innings. This is a sport that eats its young. [62], After the season, Kershaw was awarded the Warren Spahn Award as the best left-handed pitcher in 2011,[63] the Players Choice Award for Most Outstanding National League pitcher,[64] the Gold Glove Award as the top fielding pitcher in the NL[65] and the Sporting News (TSN) National League Pitcher of the Year. Theyll need it, too, because were now much closer to the end of Claytons baseball career than the start. This was always a possibility, however slim. Theyve mellowed him out. Clayton Edward Kershaw (born March 19, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was the sixth Dodger pitcher, and the first since Fernando Valenzuela to make the All-Star team four years in a row. [142] He returned to the mound on September 1,[143] but despite his extended absence, he went on to lead the National League in earned run average and wins. [148] Kershaw started the opening game of the 2017 World Series for the Dodgers against the Houston Astros. [87] On November 13, he won the NL Cy Young Award for the second time in three seasons. A left-handed starting pitcher, Kershaw has spent his entire 15-season major league career with the Dodgers since debuting in 2008.He is a nine-time All-Star, three-time National League (NL) Cy Young Award winner, the 2014 NL Most Valuable Player . The only reason thats even a consideration is because of the respect I have for the people within that group, especially now that Chris Young is there, he says of the Rangers general manager, a fellow Highland Park alum. [176] Kershaw started 10 games for the Dodgers in 2020, with a 62 record, 2.16 ERA and 62 strikeouts. Ellen sat next to him, sipping coffee from a big mug with the letter K on it. Free Agent: 2024, Nicknames: Data Provided By [40] He also pitched two innings out of the bullpen for the Dodgers in the 2008 National League Championship Series (NLCS) against the Philadelphia Phillies. I love all those guys. Clyde Tombaugh was the great-uncle of Clayton. The Kershaw family spends the offseason in Dallas but owns a home in Los Angeles. The organization has evolved since its founding in 2011, when it raised money to build an orphanage in Zambia. When the boys werent playing baseball or football, they rotated between one anothers houses for video game marathons. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. [57] In the month of July, Kershaw was 41 with a 2.02 ERA and NL-leading 45 strikeouts, earning him the National League Pitcher of the Month Award. He played in youth sports leagues in school including the Little League Baseball. One of my favorite teammates of all-time! [192], On April 30, Kershaw struck out Dustin Garneau of the Detroit Tigers to tie Don Sutton for the Dodgers franchise strikeout record at 2,696. Clayton will make his customary soft drink runs to JDs Chippery for Ellen and Ann. He admits to going hard at baseball and Ping-Pong, but thats all. [209], As noted by many teammates, Kershaw is a perfectionist. Setting aside how that wouldnt be their stylethe dining room table in their L.A. house is a Ping-Pong tableits also not where theyre meant to be. He and Ellen had two children then, both too young for school. [169] Kershaw picked up his 165th career win on August 14 against the Miami Marlins, tying Koufax for the most ever by a Dodger left-handed pitcher. | Blue Heaven Podcast, Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Waiting for Miguel Vargas to Get Better. Different as they are, they just fit. Its a return to his most authentic self, the man he is when hes free of the stress and anxiety that twists him into something harder every fifth day. To accomplish his goal, Kershaw pledged a donation of $100 per strikeout recorded in 2011. Each game was decided by a final score of 10 or 21, with many writers describing the matchups as historic and reminiscent of epic pitching duels of bygone eras. The Kershaws do not live in a compound. Youll find all of it in the love story of Clayton Kershaw and Ellen Melson. Additionally, her husband Clayton is one of the major players of the Los Angeles Dodgers who has a net worth of $60 Million. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Sometimes she doesnt go to that playground, though, he said, turning back to the sled with 45-pound weights mounted on each side. [44], Kershaw made his playoff starting debut against the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2009 National League Division Series (NLDS). His biographical data, year-by-year hitting stats, fielding stats, pitching stats (where applicable), career totals, uniform numbers, salary data and miscellaneous . So was the exchange that sealed it. [147] He made two starts in the 2017 NLCS against the Chicago Cubs, both Dodgers wins, including the clinching game five. [121] On October 4, Kershaw became the 11th player in Major League history to strike out 300 batters in a season, the first player since Randy Johnson did it in 2002. [231] His father, Christopher George Kershaw, was a musician and won a Clio Award for his work. [181] He allowed only one run in six innings in the game while striking out eight, in the process passing John Smoltz for second place all-time in postseason strikeouts with 201. Clayton hugs Ellen after pitching a no-hitter in 2014. He wants to be Calis protector. He has the kiddos to thank for that. Turners reappearance became a national controversy. He was panting when he reached the other side. I just want to do it, do it, do it. And theres this passion and it just constantly builds and builds and builds. Clayton Kershaw has 41 strikeouts this season and 2,848 strikeouts over his career. Suite 2100 Dodger Prince , if CK goes to Texas, he of course will live there but this MLB lockout will not end anytime soon so he wont be pitching anyway. Then three fastballs on either side. How North Texas Played a Role in Willie Nelsons Story. Zach Charbonnet is a man of few . Back to the windup, and one fastball inside, one fastball away. Thats just as well. [189] An MRI showed no ligament damage, but Kershaw was placed back on the injured list and ruled out for the 2021 post-season. [251][252], Kershaw and his wife, Ellen, co-authored a book, Arise: Live Out Your Faith and Dreams on Whatever Field You Find Yourself, about their Christian faith and humanitarian efforts. Fastball inside. [229] Kershaw's mother, born Marianne Tombaugh,[230] is the adopted daughter of Clyde Tombaugh's younger brother, Robert Tombaugh. In part 2 of an exclusive interview, Clayton Kershaw calls out MLB teams who arent trying and expands on off-field subjects such as the COVID vaccine. Kershaw made his sixth straight opening day start in 2016 as the Dodgers won 150. The Dodgers have been baseballs model franchise for a decade, a perennial contender that has won its division nine of the last 10 years and played for the World Series in three of them. From now on, baseball goes a fresh one-year contract at a time. One of the two televisions was set to a (muted) ESPN debate show. Meet the Kershaws, Who Still Call the Park Cities Home With Kershaw continuing to mix in his curveball as well . May 25, 2008 [203], Kershaw's repertoire includes a four-seam fastball that sits anywhere from 91 miles per hour (146km/h) to 95 miles per hour (153km/h) and in his younger years topped out at 98 miles per hour (158km/h) with late movement, a slider at 84 miles per hour (135km/h)90 miles per hour (140km/h), a 126 curveball between 72 miles per hour (116km/h)75 miles per hour (121km/h), and a seldom thrown changeup (under 3%). Their kids are allergic to dogs, so the Kershaws currently own no pets. Ill just say, I dont know, Kershaw said. Dodgers Score: Game Updates vs Cardinals on Saturday, Odds, Thompson Starts vs LHP, Former Dodgers Great Steve Sax Auctioning Off World Series, ROY and More Memorabilia, Jason Heyward Finally Rewarded at the Plate in Dodgers Win, Dave Roberts Says Dodgers Roster Not Constructed to Steal Bases, Andrew Friedman Disagrees, Dodgers News: Andrew Friedman Not Willing to Change Things in Volatile Bullpen Just Yet, Dodgers Score: Dave Roberts Cryptic Message to Rookie, Shohei Ohtani Trade Update, Muncy Extension & More, Dodgers News: Will Smith Activated, JD Martinez Heads to Injured List, Dodgers News: Max Muncy and Brusdar Graterol Activated, Justin Bruihl, Luke Williams Optioned to Triple-A, Dodgers Disappointing, Pitching/Offense/Stolen Bases Concerns, Whats Wrong With Julio Urias? They were friends first, elementary-school buddies who ran in the same crowd. In the beginning, Ellen says, we were using his platform for my passion.. [202] He has often said that he modeled his pitching mechanics after his favorite pitcher growing up, Roger Clemens. [125] Kershaw finished third in the National League Cy Young Award voting, placing behind teammate Zack Greinke and eventual winner Jake Arrieta.[126]. Sometimes thats not an easy thing to understand. Its just been amazing, she said. the official stats partner of the NBA, NHL and MLB. And, after a half-decade of chasing a World Series, of absorbing nationwide bile each time the Dodgers failed, Clayton had his Dirk-esque redemption in 2020, winning his long-awaited ring in Arlington, at Globe Life Field, which hosted playoff games as a neutral site due to the pandemic. He barely needs the game now, much less a facsimile of it. Her parents grew her in Dallas, where she finished her studies and encountered her high school friend of then and spouse of now, Clayton. Above all, the baseball lifestyle must continue to work for their family. Seventy percent of the money raised in 2012 went to Arise Africa, with 10 percent each going to the Peacock Foundation in Los Angeles, Mercy Street in Dallas, and I Am Second. This is your chance to understand why. [180] He started the first game of the 2020 World Series against the Tampa Bay Rays, tying Greg Maddux for second place all-time with 11 Game 1 starts in the postseason. Clayton and his mother, Marianne, were folded into Melson family trips a year after Clayton and Ellen began dating.