135 Facts About Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Edward Kershaw was born on March 19,1988 and is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball.

Clayton Kershaw has played for the Dodgers for the entirety of his MLB career.

Clayton Kershaw is a nine-time All-Star, three-time National League Cy Young Award winner, and the 2014 NL Most Valuable Player.

Clayton Kershaw has a career hits allowed per nine innings pitched average of 6.

Clayton Kershaw has been described for much of his career as the best pitcher in baseball, and one of the greatest pitchers of all time.

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Clayton Kershaw worked his way through the Dodgers' farm system in just one full season and reached the majors at 20 years old.

Clayton Kershaw pitched a no-hitter on June 18,2014, becoming the 22nd Dodger to do so.

Clayton Kershaw has led MLB in ERA five times, and was the first major league pitcher to do so in four consecutive years.

Clayton Kershaw is a three-time NL wins leader and three-time NL strikeouts leader.

Clayton Kershaw has been honored with the Roberto Clemente Award and the Branch Rickey Award for his humanitarian work.

Clayton Kershaw's parents divorced when he was 10, and he was raised by his mother.

Clayton Kershaw played in youth sports leagues as a child, including Little League Baseball.

Clayton Kershaw attended nearby Highland Park High School, where he played baseball and was the center for future NFL quarterback Matthew Stafford on the varsity football team.

Clayton Kershaw struck out all 15 batters he faced in the game, which was shortened because of the mercy rule.

Clayton Kershaw pitched for USA Baseball's Junior National Team in the Pan Am Championship.

Clayton Kershaw was selected by USA Today as "High School Baseball Player of the Year", and was the Gatorade National Player of the Year for baseball.

Clayton Kershaw began his career with the Gulf Coast League Dodgers.

Clayton Kershaw featured a fastball that topped out at 96 miles per hour and he was rated as the top prospect in the GCL, and the Dodgers' second best prospect by Baseball America behind third baseman Andy LaRoche.

Clayton Kershaw was selected to play on the East Team in the Midwest League All-Star Game and on the USA team in the All-Star Futures Game.

Clayton Kershaw was then called up to the majors on May 28,2008, but optioned back to Jacksonville on July 2.

Clayton Kershaw pitched 18 innings during his second trip to Jacksonville, winning two games.

Clayton Kershaw struck out the first batter he faced, Skip Schumaker, the first of seven strikeouts in the game, in which he pitched six innings and allowed two runs.

When he debuted, Clayton Kershaw was the youngest player in MLB, a title he held for one full year.

Clayton Kershaw won his first MLB game against the Washington Nationals on July 27,2008.

Clayton Kershaw pitched six-plus shutout innings, allowing four hits, a walk, and he struck out five.

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Clayton Kershaw pitched two innings out of the bullpen for the Dodgers in the 2008 National League Championship Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.

Clayton Kershaw was the youngest Dodger to ever strikeout 13 or more batters in a game since Sandy Koufax did it in the 1955 season.

On May 17,2009, Clayton Kershaw did not allow a hit against the Florida Marlins through 7 innings, then gave up a lead-off double to Florida's Cody Ross.

Clayton Kershaw walked 91 batters, which was second most in the National League.

Clayton Kershaw made his playoff starting debut against the St Louis Cardinals in the 2009 National League Division Series.

Clayton Kershaw rebounded his next start by pitching an 8-inning two-hitter and outdueling the then undefeated Ubaldo Jimenez.

Clayton Kershaw credited his control of the slider being the major turning point for him.

Clayton Kershaw produced his third career shutout on June 20, a two-hit, 11-strikeout effort against the Detroit Tigers, and became the first Dodgers starter to strike out the side in the 9th inning since Sandy Koufax's perfect game in 1965.

Clayton Kershaw became the first Dodger starter to have back-to-back complete-game victories since Jeff Weaver in the 2005 season and the first Dodger to have double-digit strikeouts in consecutive starts since Chan Ho Park in the 2000 season.

Clayton Kershaw was selected to the National League team for the 2011 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, his first All-Star selection.

Clayton Kershaw finished the 2011 season by leading the NL with 21 wins, 248 strikeouts, and a 2.

Since 1965 when Koufax did it, Peavy and Clayton Kershaw are only two pitchers in the National League have led the league in wins, strikeouts, ERA, and WHIP.

Clayton Kershaw became just the second left-hander to have a 240-plus strikeouts in a season before the age of 24, joining Vida Blue.

Clayton Kershaw was additionally selected as the starting pitcher for the TSN NL All-Star Team.

Clayton Kershaw was the 8th Dodger pitcher to win the award, the first since Eric Gagne in the 2003 season.

Clayton Kershaw was the Dodgers' Opening Day starter for the second year in a row, where he pitched three innings of shutout ball against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park before being removed from the game due to flu-like symptoms.

Clayton Kershaw was selected to appear in the 2012 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, the second straight year he made the team.

Clayton Kershaw became just the fifth Dodger pitcher with three straight 200 strikeout seasons.

Clayton Kershaw finished second for the NL Cy Young behind R A Dickey, receiving two first-place votes.

Clayton Kershaw made his third straight opening day start for the Dodgers in the 2013 season, the first Dodger starter to do so since Derek Lowe.

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Clayton Kershaw was the first pitcher to throw a shutout and hit a home run on opening day since Bob Lemon of the Cleveland Indians did so against the Chicago White Sox on April 14,1953.

Clayton Kershaw picked up his 1,000th career strikeout on April 17,2013, when he struck out Yonder Alonso of the Padres.

Clayton Kershaw was the second youngest Dodger to reach that mark, behind only Fernando Valenzuela.

Clayton Kershaw threw 130 pitches that day, the most of his career and the most by a Dodger pitcher since Odalis Perez in the 2003 season.

Clayton Kershaw was selected to the 2013 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, his third straight selection.

On September 2, Clayton Kershaw picked up his 200th strikeout of 2013, joining Hall of Famers Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale as the only starters in Dodgers history with at least four consecutive seasons of more than 200 strikeouts.

Clayton Kershaw was the third player in history to lead the Majors in ERA three years in a row, joining Greg Maddux and Lefty Grove.

Clayton Kershaw was only the third Dodger pitcher to have an ERA under 3.

Clayton Kershaw struck out 12 batters in seven innings in the first game of the 2013 National League Division Series.

Clayton Kershaw picked up his first career postseason victory in that game.

Clayton Kershaw won the Warren Spahn Award for 2013, the second time he had won the award, which honors the best left-handed pitcher in the Major Leagues.

Clayton Kershaw was selected to the Sporting News NL All-Star team, the fourth Dodger pitcher to be named to the team twice.

Clayton Kershaw became just the sixth pitcher in history to finish in the top two in voting three seasons in a row.

Clayton Kershaw made his fourth straight opening day start for the Dodgers in 2014, only the fourth Dodger ever to do so.

Clayton Kershaw is one of two pitchers in MLB history, along with Max Scherzer, with 15 strikeouts in a game while allowing no hits and no walks.

Clayton Kershaw was selected to the National League squad at the 2014 Major League Baseball All-Star Game, his fourth straight selection.

Clayton Kershaw was the sixth Dodger pitcher, and the first since Fernando Valenzuela to make the All-Star team four years in a row.

Clayton Kershaw's streak was, at the time, tied for the fifteenth longest scoreless inning streak in MLB history.

Clayton Kershaw became just the fourth pitcher since 1893 to have at least five 200-strikeout seasons through an age-26 season.

Clayton Kershaw finished third in strikeouts despite missing most of the first month of the season.

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Clayton Kershaw was the first pitcher in history to win four consecutive ERA titles.

However, in his first start of the playoffs, in Game 1 of the Division Series against the Cardinals, Clayton Kershaw became the first pitcher in history to strike out 10 while allowing eight runs.

Clayton Kershaw had cruised through the first six innings while allowing only two hits and surrendered six runs in the seventh.

Clayton Kershaw did tie Koufax for the only Dodgers pitchers with multiple double-digit strikeout games in the playoffs.

Clayton Kershaw was the first pitcher in history to give up at least seven runs in back-to-back postseason starts.

Clayton Kershaw was honored after the season with the player of the year awards from both The Sporting News and Baseball America.

Clayton Kershaw won three awards at the Players Choice Awards including Outstanding NL Pitcher, Player of the Year and the Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award.

Clayton Kershaw made his fifth straight opening day start in 2015, the first Dodgers pitcher to do so since Hall of Famer Don Sutton started seven in a row from 1972 through 1978.

Clayton Kershaw became the 22nd pitcher in franchise history, and the second-youngest active pitcher to reach that mark.

Clayton Kershaw did not make the initial NL roster for the 2015 All-Star Game, though he was included on the Final Vote ballot, which he lost to Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez.

Clayton Kershaw became the first Dodgers starter with back-to-back games of at least 13 strikeouts since Chan Ho Park in 2000, and the first Dodgers pitcher with back-to-back games of double-digit strikeouts and no walks since Dazzy Vance in 1930.

Clayton Kershaw picked up his 200th strikeout of the season on August 12, tying Hideo Nomo's 1995 season for the fastest to that mark in Dodgers history at 156 innings.

On October 4, Clayton 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.

Clayton Kershaw finished third in the National League Cy Young Award voting, placing behind teammate Zack Greinke and eventual winner Jake Arrieta.

Clayton Kershaw set an MLB record with six consecutive starts with at least 10 strikeouts and no more than one walk and a club record with six consecutive starts with at least 10 strikeouts.

On June 30,2016, Clayton Kershaw was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to back pain.

Clayton Kershaw received an MRI, which revealed that there was a mild herniated disc in the back, and received an epidural injection to treat the pain.

Clayton Kershaw was named to the 2016 All-Star team but was unable to pitch in the game due to his injury.

Clayton Kershaw continued to feel discomfort in his back after a simulated game.

Clayton Kershaw started games one and four of the 2016 National League Division Series and picked up the save in the clinching game five.

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Clayton Kershaw next pitched seven shutout innings, allowing only two hits, in Game two of the 2016 National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs.

Clayton Kershaw struggled in Game Six, allowing five runs in five innings to pick up the loss as the Dodgers were eliminated from post-season contention.

Clayton Kershaw made his seventh straight Opening Day start, tying Don Sutton for most consecutive Opening Day starts, and Sutton and Don Drysdale for most total opening day starts by a Dodger.

Clayton Kershaw was the fifth-youngest player in major league history to reach that mark, as well as the second-fastest pitcher to 2,000 strikeouts, accomplishing the feat in 277 games.

Clayton Kershaw was named to his seventh straight all-star game, second most in Dodgers history after Drysdale.

Clayton Kershaw led all major league pitchers in left on base percentage, stranding 87.

Clayton Kershaw made two starts in the 2017 NLCS against the Chicago Cubs, both Dodgers wins, including the clinching game five.

Clayton Kershaw allowed three runs in 11 innings in the two games with nine strikeouts and only two walks.

Clayton Kershaw started the opening game of the 2017 World Series for the Dodgers against the Houston Astros.

Clayton Kershaw struck out 11 batters in the game without walking anyone and only allowed one run on three hits to pick up the win.

Clayton Kershaw came back in game seven to pitch four scoreless innings of relief in the game, and in the process, he broke Orel Hershiser's Dodgers post-season record with his 33rd strikeout.

Clayton Kershaw was selected as a starting pitcher on Baseball America's All-MLB Team and finished second in the NL Cy Young Award voting.

Clayton Kershaw started the second game of the series and pitched eight scoreless innings while allowing only two hits.

Clayton Kershaw then started the opener of the 2018 NLCS against the Milwaukee Brewers, but turned in the shortest postseason start of his career, replaced with no outs in the fourth inning after allowing five runs on six hits and two walks.

Clayton Kershaw had better results in Game 5, pitching seven innings and allowing one run on three hits and two walks while striking out nine.

Clayton Kershaw walked twice as a batter, becoming just the third pitcher in the last 20 years to do so in a postseason game.

Clayton Kershaw made two starts for the Dodgers in the 2018 World Series against the Boston Red Sox.

Clayton Kershaw experienced left shoulder inflammation early in spring training, causing him to be shut down and he did not begin throwing in spring until late.

Clayton Kershaw was selected to the 2019 MLB All-Star Game, his eighth all-star appearance.

Clayton Kershaw struck out the first seven batters in the game, breaking a Dodger record previously held by Andy Messersmith and one short of the major league record.

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That game marked only the sixth time in his career that Clayton Kershaw gave up two home runs in the same game to the same batter, Bo Bichette, and only the first time Clayton Kershaw did so to a rookie.

Clayton Kershaw was scheduled to start on opening day in the season shorted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but he hurt his back in the weight room and was placed on the injured list to start the season.

Clayton Kershaw started the second game of the wild card series against the Milwaukee Brewers and threw eight scoreless innings while only allowing three hits and striking out 13.

Clayton Kershaw was scratched from his scheduled Game 2 start in the NLCS against the Atlanta Braves because of back spasms and started Game 4 instead, where he allowed four runs in five innings for his first loss of the 2020 postseason.

Clayton Kershaw 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 Kershaw 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 Kershaw struck out six in the game to pass Justin Verlander for the most strikeouts in postseason history.

Clayton Kershaw made his ninth opening day start for the Dodgers, after having missed doing so the previous two seasons because of injuries.

An MRI showed no ligament damage, but Clayton Kershaw was placed back on the injured list and ruled out for the 2021 post-season.

On March 13,2022, Clayton Kershaw signed a one year deal worth $17 million to return to the Dodgers.

Clayton Kershaw became the first person since 1961 to bring two perfect games into the eight inning in the same season.

Clayton Kershaw was chosen to start the 2022 Major League Baseball All-Star Game in front of his home crowd at Dodger Stadium.

Clayton Kershaw keeps the ball hidden so that it is hard for the batter to pick up the ball, and has a consistent overhand delivery on all of his pitches.

Out of the windup, Clayton Kershaw lowers his right foot vertically with a slight pause before moving it forward toward the plate.

Clayton Kershaw has often said that he modeled his pitching mechanics after his favorite pitcher growing up, Roger Clemens.

Clayton Kershaw is known for having one of the better pickoff moves to first base and is considered one of the better fielding pitchers in the game.

Clayton Kershaw grew up in Highland Park, Texas and attended school with quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Clayton Kershaw is the great-nephew of astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, the discoverer of Pluto.

Clayton Kershaw's mother, born Marianne Tombaugh, is the adopted daughter of Clyde Tombaugh's younger brother, Robert Tombaugh.

Clayton Kershaw's father, Christopher George Kershaw, was a musician and won a Clio Award for his work.

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The elder Clayton Kershaw remarried after his divorce from Marianne and died in 2013.

On December 4,2010, Clayton Kershaw married his girlfriend of seven years, Ellen Melson.

Clayton Kershaw is a Methodist with strong religious faith, and shared his faith story in a 2012 video for the I Am Second series.

Clayton Kershaw made a cameo appearance in "Prince", a Season 3 episode of New Girl that originally aired following FOX's telecast of Super Bowl XLVIII.

When Clayton Kershaw won the 2011 Players Choice Award, he donated $260,000 to Hope's Home.

In 2014, Clayton Kershaw continued to support the children of Zambia, in partnership with CURE International, raising funds to pay for 170 children's surgeries and new medical equipment for CURE hospital in Lusaka.

Clayton Kershaw continued his partnership with CURE International in 2015, setting a goal of funding 100 surgeries for CURE's hospital in the Dominican Republic.

In mid-December 2015, Clayton Kershaw participated in an expedition to Cuba composed of MLB officials and players, including former Dodgers manager Joe Torre.

Clayton Kershaw is a supporter of the Peacock Foundation, which provides animal-assisted interventions and activities for at-risk youth by partnering with mental health practitioners, public service agencies and community organizations.

Clayton Kershaw is a celebrity endorser for Wilson Sporting Goods, Muscle Milk, Skechers and Subway.