[News Figures] MLB All-Time 200 Wins Milestone 'Kershaw'

Overcoming Adversity to Achieve '200 Wins' Milestone
Single Mom Marion's Devoted Sacrifice
Honeymoon Spent Volunteering in Africa
Major League Talent and Character

Clayton Kershaw (35) of the LA Dodgers has finally conquered the 200-win milestone. Despite a difficult childhood marked by his parents' divorce, he has ultimately etched a historic record on the Major League Baseball (MLB) mound.

On the 19th (Korean time), Kershaw started as the starting pitcher in the home game against the 2023 MLB New York Mets at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. He pitched 7 innings, allowing only 3 hits, striking out 9 batters, and throwing a scoreless game to lead the Dodgers to a 5-0 victory.

With his third win of the season that day, Kershaw achieved a personal career milestone of 200 wins. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, "Tonight’s performance truly exemplifies who he is." Catcher Austin Barnes, who played alongside Kershaw, expressed his amazement on MLB’s official website, MLB.com, saying, "200 wins means winning 20 games for 10 years. That’s difficult to do." Statistician Lang praised him on his social media, saying, "We are lucky to be able to watch Kershaw."

LA Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is roaring after recording the third out in the 7th inning during the game against the New York Mets at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, USA, on the 19th (Korean time). Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Kershaw mainly throws a fastball, slider, and curveball. He also uses a changeup, but overall his pitch selection seems simple. However, his fastball averages a speed of 150 km/h. Combined with his extraordinary strength derived from his 191 cm height, the pitches hit the strike zone precisely, leaving batters helpless. Considering he is a left-handed pitcher, batters reportedly perceive the speed to be 3 to 4 km/h faster.

Although Kershaw has won the Cy Young Award twice (2011 and 2013), he was selected 7th overall by the Dodgers in the first round of the 2006 rookie draft. However, Kershaw was very satisfied simply to receive a signing bonus and be able to earn income doing the sport he loved, which relates to his difficult childhood.

Born in Texas, Kershaw’s parents divorced when he was 10 years old, and he was raised by his mother, Marion. Despite difficult financial circumstances, Marion wanted to provide Kershaw with the best educational environment, so they lived in Highland Park, where the average household income exceeds $200,000 (about 213 million KRW). However, Marion eventually could not afford the tuition and transferred Kershaw from a private school to a public school. Even after that, Marion did her best to help Kershaw pursue his dreams.

A poster celebrating Kershaw's 200th win. Photo by LA Dodgers

Overcoming a difficult childhood, Kershaw made his MLB debut in 2008, throwing his signature curveball in his first big league game. Vin Scully, the famous Dodgers announcer known as the "Voice of the Dodgers," immediately declared upon seeing Kershaw’s pitch, "Public Enemy No. 1 has been born," predicting the rise of a "super ace." Kershaw went on to win the Cy Young Award in 2011 and 2013, and in 2014 signed a long-term contract with the Dodgers worth $215 million over 7 years (2014?2020, approximately 224 billion KRW). He established himself as an undisputed ace pitcher in MLB. At the time, it was the highest contract value for a pitcher. In December last year, Kershaw re-signed with the Dodgers on a one-year deal worth $20 million (2.62 billion KRW), including a $15 million salary and a $5 million signing bonus.

Thanks to his mother Marion’s devoted care, Kershaw was able to focus solely on baseball. After his playing career, his life has been influenced by his wife, Ellen Kershaw. After finishing his debut season in 2008 and returning to his hometown in Texas, Kershaw first opened a charity baseball clinic to help African children, which led to various volunteer activities. He met Ellen in high school, and after seven years of dating, they married in 2010. For their honeymoon, they volunteered in Zambia, Africa, and have since established an orphanage and regularly visit to care for the children. Ellen supported Kershaw’s dream of standing on the Major League mound since his teenage years, always encouraging him by saying, "You can do it."

What remains as Kershaw’s goal? He says it is solely winning, and that victory exists because of the team, dedicating the glory of 200 wins to the team. In interviews with local media such as MLB.com, Kershaw said, "My goal is to win. So tonight was really great," and added, "I was able to reach 200 wins because I played on a great team."