Clayton Kershaw Bids Farewell After Legendary Dodgers Career
Clayton Kershaw, the face of the Los Angeles Dodgers for nearly two decades, has officially decided to hang up his cleats. At a press conference on September 18th, Kershaw announced that this season would be his last, closing the book on an 18-year career in Dodger blue. Surrounded by his teammates, manager Dave Roberts, and his family, Kershaw spoke with the calm conviction of someone at peace with his choice. “I’m going to call it,” he said simply. “I’m going to retire. We talked about it a lot as a family.”
The announcement wasn’t exactly a surprise to everyone. Teammate Max Muncy admitted he had suspected this moment was coming, having spoken with Kershaw during the year. Still, hearing it confirmed brought a sense of finality. In fact, Kershaw had sent a group text to his teammates earlier that morning to break the news before stepping onto the podium.
For fans, the timing might feel sudden. Many believed Kershaw would retire after the Dodgers’ 2024 World Series triumph. However, despite missing the postseason that year with a toe injury, he chose to return for one more run. The 2025 season has been strong—he’s posted a 10-2 record with 71 strikeouts in 102 innings and even reached the prestigious 3,000-strikeout milestone in July, becoming just the 20th pitcher in MLB history to do so.
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Statistically, his career numbers are staggering. Kershaw will finish second on the Dodgers’ all-time wins list with 222 victories, just behind Don Sutton’s 233. He ranks third in franchise starts with 449, trailing only Sutton and Don Drysdale. Along the way, he collected multiple Cy Young Awards, an MVP, five ERA titles, and, of course, two World Series rings.
The timing of his retirement announcement was carefully chosen. With 10 games left in the regular season, Kershaw wanted to ensure his decision wouldn’t overshadow the team’s playoff push. “I’m at peace with it and I think it’s the right time,” he said. “It’s been a fun year and such a blast. I can’t think of a better season to go out, but we have a lot to accomplish.”
The final chapter of his story will come fittingly at Dodger Stadium, where Kershaw is scheduled to make his last regular-season start against the San Francisco Giants on September 19th. It’s a matchup steeped in rivalry and history, and a fitting stage for one of baseball’s greatest pitchers to take his final bow.
Kershaw’s name will soon join the legends of the game. Analysts already rank him among the top pitchers of the modern era, alongside Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer. In fact, he is considered one of the five greatest left-handers to ever play and arguably a top-20 pitcher of all time. When his Hall of Fame vote arrives in five years, his induction will be little more than a formality.
For Dodgers fans, though, the numbers only tell part of the story. Over 18 years, Clayton Kershaw was more than just an ace—he was the heart of the franchise. And now, as the curtain falls, baseball says goodbye to not just a legend on the mound, but one of the defining players of an entire generation.
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