Clayton Kershaw's Final Regular Season Home Start: A Bittersweet Farewell

A Bittersweet Farewell at Dodger Stadium

• 💔 Clayton Kershaw is set to take the mound for his final regular-season home start at Dodger Stadium, a moment described as bittersweet for fans.
• 😭 The soon-to-be Hall of Famer announced his retirement just yesterday, making this game against the Giants a farewell celebration.

Kershaw's Illustrious Career

• 🏆 Over nearly two decades, Kershaw has been the face of Dodgers baseball, earning 3 Cy Young Awards and 2 World Series titles.
• 🎯 He recently achieved his 3,000th career strikeout, cementing his legacy as a Dodgers legend.
• 🌟 Fans have watched him grow from a 20-year-old rookie into an epitome of the ultimate teammate.

A Photographer's Perspective

• 📸 John Johnson, the Dodgers' official photographer for 41 years, has captured Kershaw's biggest moments, describing it as something special.
• 🎞️ He recalls seeing Kershaw's young face when he was drafted in 2006, noting how amazing it is to look back at the photos.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Johnson describes Kershaw as a family man, noting that Kershaw was pitching with his son when the retirement news broke.

Fan and Opponent Reactions

• ✈️ Fans traveled from afar, like from Texas, to witness this historic game, with one fan even making it despite a kidney stone.
• 🤝 Even Giants fans acknowledge the significance of Kershaw's retirement, with some hoping to get a home run off him.

Looking Ahead

• ⚾ While the Dodgers still have to make it to the playoffs, the season is not over, but this marks a significant moment for the franchise.
• 🥺 It's hard for fans to imagine Dodger Stadium without seeing Kershaw pitch, as they are ready to go out and hoping for another season.