TORONTO — His legendary profession — one of many nice careers in baseball historical past — had reached its storybook conclusion. The Dodgers had gained a second consecutive World Collection in extraordinary vogue. And the one individual at Rogers Centre who didn’t appear to know was Clayton Kershaw.
Mookie Betts had turned a dramatic double play to finish Sport 7, an totally insane 5-4 Los Angeles victory in 11 innings. The Dodgers started pouring out of the dugout to have fun. However Kershaw, who was warming up within the right-field bullpen, didn’t have time to maintain tabs on the scenario. He thought there have been two outs.
“Actually,” a shirtless and beer-soaked Kershaw mentioned afterward, “I didn’t know. … [Bullpen catcher Josh Bard] checked out me and mentioned, ‘We simply gained the World Collection,’ and I used to be like, ‘Are you positive?’”
Kershaw could be the final one to succeed in the celebration on the infield. He didn’t appear to thoughts. He was greeted there with hugs from dozens of teammates — quickly to be his former teammates.
This summer season, Kershaw introduced he could be retiring after the 2025 season. Within the months since, he’s been at peace with the choice.
Eighteen seasons. 5 ERA titles. Three Cy Younger Awards. An MVP. Greater than 3,000 strikeouts.
And now, a 3rd World Collection title.
“It’s arduous to place into phrases, truthfully,” Kershaw mentioned. “I’m simply so grateful. The best way that my profession, this season, has ended has been greater than I might have ever hoped for. I’m just a bit bit speechless, a little bit bit shocked that we gained this one tonight.”
Had the sport saved going, it’s unclear when Kershaw may’ve entered. He was making ready as if he could be going through the subsequent batter, the lefty-hitting Daulton Varsho, when Alejandro Kirk bounced into the game-ending double play.
And with that, one of many nice World Collection in baseball historical past was over. Kershaw had performed his half. A small half? Technically. He recorded just one out. However what an unlimited out it was.
Within the twelfth inning of Sport 3, with the rating tied and the bases loaded, Kershaw was known as upon with two outs. After an eight-pitch battle, he induced a Nathan Lukes groundout to flee the jam. It was the ultimate out he recorded — and perhaps crucial.
“Have it’s at Dodger Stadium, have it’s the final one — you may’t script that both,” Kershaw mentioned. “That’s so cool. I’ve to offer [manager Dave Roberts] a variety of thanks for that, too, trusting me to do this. I’ve had a variety of ups and downs. So for him to proceed to belief in me and belief me in these massive moments, it means loads.”
Certainly, by the tip, this was not classic Clayton Kershaw. His fastball checked in round 90 mph. He needed to grind like by no means earlier than to get outs. However make no mistake: He earned his World Collection ring. Kershaw made 23 appearances — 22 begins — and posted a 3.36 ERA. The Dodgers gained 17 of the 23 video games he pitched.
And since he made one remaining look within the Fall Basic, Kershaw will be a part of some unique firm in 5 years when he’s inevitably enshrined in Cooperstown. Right here’s the complete listing of Corridor of Famers to complete their careers by showing in a World Collection with a group that ultimately gained the title:
“I will say for the remainder of my life that we gained Sport 7 of the World Collection, the final recreation I ever performed,” Kershaw mentioned. “You may’t script that. You may’t write it up. Even when I used to be not throwing 88 [mph], I nonetheless could be carried out. It’s simply the proper technique to finish it.”
When the postgame ceremony broke up, Kershaw’s Dodgers teammates spilled onto the confetti-filled outfield. Kershaw took a detour, alongside his household. They moseyed to the pitcher’s mound.
For thus a few years, the massive league mound was Kershaw’s workplace. It’s the place his curveball danced and his slider bit and his fastball — as soon as upon a time — was pinpoint and good. It’s the place he skilled all method of postseason disappointments — solely to finish his profession with one remaining postseason success.
So he sat on the mound, soaking it in together with his household one remaining time. Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman later advised reporters that he had provided Kershaw some kind of job with the group. Kershaw downplayed it — “one thing the place I might hang around,” he mentioned. His spouse, Ellen, is anticipating their fifth youngster. That’s not front-of-mind proper now.
“Initially, it’s for me to have this fifth child and be a dad for some time,” Kershaw mentioned. “I don’t suppose there’s any full-time jobs in my instant future.”
As Kershaw retreated from the celebration to his locker within the bowels of Rogers Centre, he did so alongside his son. A swarm of reporters awaited him.
As he was making ready to speak, Kershaw requested his son what they need to do after he’d fulfilled his media obligations one remaining time. He mentioned he was enthusiastic about getting dressed and on the brink of depart.
Kershaw had lifted the Commissioner’s Trophy. He’d spent these treasured moments on the mound together with his household. He’d left the sphere to chants from Dodgers followers behind the first-base dugout. He’d been doused in champagne within the adjoining batting-cage space. So, in spite of everything that, was it time to go?
“No,” his son pleaded. “Not but.”
So the 2 Kershaws rejoined the celebration.
