Dodgers News: Not a dry eye in the house as Kersh calls it quits
LOS ANGELES — We at DodgersBeat have been in a lot of press conferences over the years. Some tense, some dull, some celebratory. But nothing felt quite like Thursday afternoon at Dodger Stadium. The room was packed, every chair filled, reporters lining the walls, cameras stacked shoulder to shoulder. And when Clayton Kershaw walked in, you could feel the air change. Everyone knew what was coming, but still—hearing it was something else.
“Thanks, Stan. Um, this is weird,” Kershaw began, taking his seat in the packed press room. “I’m going to retire.”
The words landed like a punch to the gut. A future Hall of Famer, the face of the franchise for nearly two decades, putting a period on his 18-year career. Kershaw tried to downplay it, promising to keep things “short and sweet,” but as he went through his list of thank-yous, the emotion in the room swelled.
Gratitude and Humor
Kershaw rattled off names—ownership, the front office, Dave Roberts and the coaching staff, the trainers who, as he put it, “helped me get this carcass out on the field every fifth day.” That line broke some of the tension, drawing a laugh. But just as quickly, he was fighting back tears.
“The hardest one is the teammates,” he admitted. “So, I’m not even going to look you guys in the eye. You mean so much to me. We have so much fun. I’m going to miss it… I’m going to miss working out day one in the weight room listening to crazy music. Shirtless Sundays. I’m going to miss the flights. Freddy, you know what I’m talking about.”
From my spot near the back, I found myself blinking fast, trying not to get swept up in it. But it was impossible. This wasn’t just a pitcher announcing retirement. It was a man saying goodbye to the daily rhythms, the brotherhood, the joy of a clubhouse life he clearly cherished.
Ellen’s “Perch”
The most powerful moment came when Kershaw read a note from his wife, Ellen, reflecting on her view of his career “from her perch.” She described being “uncomfortably pregnant, nursing newborns, chasing toddlers through the concourses” while hundreds of times watching Clayton pitch.
“She’s cried over some really hard losses and some really incredible milestones,” Kershaw read, his voice breaking. “She’s watched our kids fall in love with the game, with the players, with watching me pitch. She’s done it thousands of times—thousands of bathroom runs, all in the stadium.”
By the time he looked up, his eyes were glassy. As were everyone else’s.
Peace, Not Sadness
Kershaw insisted he wasn’t leaving with regret. “I’m really not sad. I’m really at peace with this,” he said. “It’s just emotional. I told our guys not to make it weird today… and here I am making it weird.”
Asked what he was most proud of, he paused, collected himself, and finally answered: “We all play this game for the respect of our teammates. Having these guys here is pretty special. I’m proud of that.”
When the subject turned to Los Angeles, he was equally reflective. “That’s been amazing. I love being here. I wouldn’t change that for anything,” he said. “My kids have grown up here. We started out dating, to married, to four and a half kids later. We’ve all grown up here, haven’t we?”
The Final Stretch
Even in the middle of all that emotion, Kershaw’s competitive fire never dimmed. Asked by Dodgers audio reporter David Vassegh about Friday night’s start—likely his final regular-season appearance at Dodger Stadium—he brushed aside sentiment. “I anticipate pitching good, Dave,” he deadpanned, drawing chuckles. “This game matters. We’ve got to win these games.”
And when pressed about going out on his own terms, Kershaw shrugged. “Not a lot of people get this opportunity, so I’m just super grateful for it. Own terms is a weird thing to say, but not hurt is nice. Being able to pitch and not pitch terribly and being around has been super special.”
Walking Out
When it was over, he thanked the media one last time. “I know I’m not the most fun at times,” he said, “so thank you for putting up with me.”
He stepped down from the podium and walked out, leaving behind a press room that sat in stunned silence for a moment, everyone needing time to process what they had just witnessed.
We in the press corps sat there for a moment, realizing we’d just seen the end of an era (or at least the beginning of the end). Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers’ heartbeat for 18 seasons, had said goodbye in his own awkward, heartfelt, perfectly human way.
Tomorrow night he’ll take the mound at Dodger Stadium one last time in the regular season. And I have no doubt the place will be shaking.
Have you subscribed to the Bleed Los Podcast YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows & promotions, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
