Clayton Kershaw
With a curveball that defied physics and a competitive fire that defined an era, he anchored the Dodgers' rotation for a generation as the most dominant pitcher of his time.
Born 1988 (age 38)·American baseball player·Birthday: March 19·Millennials
Biography
Clayton Kershaw won three Cy Young Awards and the 2014 National League MVP, a rarity for a pitcher. Drafted straight out of high school, the Texas left-hander combined a ferocious competitive streak with a surgical fastball and a buckling curveball—dubbed 'Public Enemy No. 1'—that became the most feared pitch in baseball. For over a decade, his starts were events, marked by pristine mechanics and an almost predictable dominance. He carried the Dodgers to annual postseason contention. Kershaw finished with a 2.48 career ERA and 2,944 strikeouts. He won a World Series title in 2020. His historic regular-season numbers and personal quest for October glory made him the face of a Dodgers golden age.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Clayton was born in 1988, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Clayton Was Born
The biggest hits of 1988
#1 Movie
Rain Man
Best Picture
Rain Man
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Clayton's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1988Born
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1993Started school
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
2001Became a teenager
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Could drive
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2006Could vote
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2009Turned 21
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2018Turned 30
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 38 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the National League Most Valuable Player Award in 2014, the first pitcher to do so in the NL since 1968.
- Captured three Cy Young Awards (2011, 2013, 2014) and was a five-time ERA champion.
- Pitched a no-hitter against the Colorado Rockies on June 18, 2014, striking out 15 and allowing no walks.
- Was the cornerstone of the Los Angeles Dodgers' 2020 World Series championship team.
Did You Know?
He and his wife, Ellen, founded 'Kershaw's Challenge', a charity that builds orphanages and supports communities in Zambia.
Kershaw famously still uses a flip phone and does not have a smartphone.
He struck out his 3,000th career batter in 2022, becoming one of the youngest pitchers to reach the milestone.
He was drafted 7th overall in 2006, one pick ahead of future two-time MVP Tim Lincecum.
“I want to be remembered as a competitor. Someone who gave everything he had every time out.”
