Dodgers Interview: Kersh’s Final Home Start Fills him with Gratitude
"Walking off the mound like that was really special."
LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw stood alone on the Dodger Stadium grass and tried to make a once-in-a-lifetime moment feel like any other game. “It was a great gesture. I didn’t love it, but it was a great gesture,” he said of the solo introduction that opened his final regular-season start at Chavez Ravine. “The guys have gone above and beyond the last few days for me. I never want to be a distraction to the game because winning is the most important thing for us, especially right now.”
The night didn’t start easily on the mound—by his own admission, he was fighting it—but the finish hit all the right emotional notes. “It was a little harder than I wanted it to be. I was grinding, working way too hard to get people out,” he said. “I’m thankful I made it through what I did and kept us in the game a little bit. The bullpen stepped up, and Sho’s homer was incredible. Mookie’s right after—amazing. I’m very honored to be a part of this team tonight. The whole night was just special.”
What he’ll take home isn’t a single pitch so much as a single step. “Being able to walk off the mound—that’s probably what I’ll remember the most,” Kershaw said. “I told Doc, I’m not trying to be disrespectful, but I’m keeping this ball.” The emotion of the moment was sharpened by how tough the outing felt in his body. “I was battling, not throwing many strikes, having a tough time getting the ball where I wanted it to go. Getting that last one there and walking off the mound like that was really special.”
Kersh tried to channel the day like any other start, but the weight of 18 seasons seeped into the margins. “I did everything normal. Everything just kind of expends your energy,” he said. “You’re trying to focus on the nine guys you have to get out, but it’s a special day—almost the last time here, potentially—and this place has meant so much to me. I’m kind of mentally exhausted today, honestly. But it’s the best feeling in the world now. We got a win, we clinched a playoff berth, and I got to stand on that mound one last time. I just can’t be more grateful.”
Kershaw’s goodbye doubled as a reunion tour: former teammates in No. 22 jerseys dotted the front row and his family filled “the perch,” as his wife Ellen calls it. “Guys from every generation of Dodger I got to play with—from Russell (Martin) and Dre (Andre Either) to Barnsy (Austin Barnes) and J-Roll (Jimmy Rollins) and Trace (Thompson). A.J. (Ellis) was here. (A.J.) Pollock was here. Even Matthew (Stafford) came tonight,” he said, ticking through names as though leafing a scrapbook. “All facets of my life—family, friends, neighbors, everybody from back home. Ellen hasn’t missed a start the last ten or so, racking up miles since school started to get everybody here. I don’t have enough words. I need to write it all down. I can’t adequately express how thankful I am for tonight, this whole season, my whole career. I’m just so thankful I’ve gotten to be a Dodger this long.”
The setting fit the story: Dodgers-Giants, under lights, with history in the air. “We’ve had some great battles over the years,” Kershaw said. “Whenever I think of the Giants, Buster is kind of the first one—him and Bum—and Lincecum. They’ve had great squads and I have a lot of respect for them. It does feel appropriate that I faced the Giants. I’m glad we won one more time.” The bond with Los Angeles felt like something deeper than applause. “It’s almost like a relationship,” he said. “You’ve been 18 years in this with them. There are great times, and there are times where you probably want to break up for a minute. Having them behind me the way they have been has been icing on the cake. Dodger Stadium is a super special place, and the fans are the main reason why. Every night it’s 50,000 people. I’m honored and thankful to hear those ovations, and I’ll never take that for granted.”
Even as he soaked in the farewell, Kershaw’s compass pointed forward. “I’ve got one more start in Seattle,” he said. “Our team is stacked with pitching right now. Our rotation has been throwing the ball as good as anyone in the league. I can do the math, and there are only so many spots. I’m going to continue to try and pitch well in Seattle, and then we’ll see what happens. Either way, we’re going to try and win the World Series. Andrew, Doc, all those guys will make the right decision to help us. I’m ready and willing to do whatever I can to help.”
As always, his perspective widened beyond box scores to the people who filled his baseball life. “The Dodger culture was established long before me and it’ll be established long after I’m gone,” he said. “This game doesn’t need anybody. I’m so grateful I got to be a small part of Dodger history for as long as I’ve been here. We’ve had amazing groups along the way, and this one is pretty special.” Then the father in him surfaced again, thinking of kids who were finally old enough to remember. “I’m so glad Callie and Charlie are going to remember this. Cooper and Chance—Ellen has a rolodex of pictures for them,” he said, smiling. “It’s time to be home and be with them. They’ve got so many things going on, and I’m excited to be there for all of it.”
Before first pitch, cameras caught Kershaw alone on the grass collecting his breath. He laughed at the attention, but owned the ritual. “I do that every game—just sit and try to breathe and focus a little bit,” he said. “It was a little harder tonight, but in a good way.” Afterward, as the noise poured down, he tried to give something back: a wave, a nod, a long look. “You don’t ever get used to somebody cheering for you,” he said. “I wouldn’t change it. Perfect night. It really was.”
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