45 Interesting Facts About Clayton Kershaw

Clayton Kershaw is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). Here are 45 facts about him that you should know:

• Full name of Clayton Kershaw is Clayton Edward Kershaw.
  
• He was born on March 19, 1988, in Dallas, Texas.
• His parents divorced when he was 10.
• Kershaw was raised by his mother.
• He used to play youth sports leagues as a child.
• During childhood, he has also played Little League Baseball.
• In school, Kershaw played baseball.
• He also played football where he was at the center.
• While at school, he posted a 3-0 record with an earned run average (ERA) of 0.77, and recorded 139 strikeouts in 64 innings pitched.
  
• In a game with another school, Kershaw pitched an all-strikeout perfect game.
• He struck out all 15 batters he faced in the game.
• He also pitched USA Baseball's Junior National Team in the Pan Am Championship.
• Kershaw is a left-handed starting pitcher.
  
• Kershaw's career earned run average (ERA) is the lowest among starters in the live-ball era with a minimum of 1,000 innings pitched.
• He has won Cy Young Award three times.
• USA Today awarded him as "High School Baseball Player of the Year."
• He was also given the Gatorade National Player of the Year for baseball.
• In 2014, Kershaw was awarded as National League Most Valuable Player.
  
• He has been drafted seventh overall in the 2006 MLB Draft.
• Kershaw reached the majors when he was just 20 years old.
• He was the youngest player in MLB at that time.
• He won the pitching Triple Crown in 2011 and became the youngest pitcher to accomplish either of these feats since 1985.
  
• He also pitched a no-hitter on 2014, becoming the 22nd Dodger to do so.
• Kershaw is often compared to Hall of Fame pitcher Sandy Koufax.
• Kershaw is first pitcher in history to lead MLB in ERA for four consecutive years (2011 to 2014).
• Kershaw along with his wife, launched 'Kershaw's Challenge.'
• The couple has written a book Arise to raise money to build an orphanage in Zambia.
  
• Kershaw, for his humanitarian works, has also been honored with the Roberto Clemente Award and the Branch Rickey Award.
• Kershaw started his career with Gulf Coast League (GCL) Dodgers.
• At GCL, pitched 37 innings in which he struck out 54 batters.
• Soon after, he was rated as the top prospect in GCL.
• Experts also called him Dodgers' second best prospect by Baseball America behind third baseman Andy LaRoche.
• In 2007, he was promoted to Great Lakes Loons.
• At Great Lakes Loons, Kershaw recorded a record of 7-5 with a 2.77 ERA.
• Dodgers bought Kershaw's minor-league contract in 2008, where he was added to the active roster.
• In July 2008, Kershaw won his first major league game. The game was against Washington Nationals.
• In that game, he pitched six-plus shutout innings, allowing four hits, a walk, and he struck out five.
• In April 2009, Kershaw pitched seven innings and stroke out 13 batters while allowing only one hit against the rival.
• After 1955, he was the youngest Dodger to ever strikeout 13 or more batters in a game.
• Pitching style of Kershaw relies a lot on deception, as he keeps the ball hidden, making it hard for the batter to pick up the ball.
• Teammates believe Kershaw is a noted perfectionist.
• Kershaw's win-loss record is 101-52.
• Kershaw has been also awarded Gold Glove award.
• In 2011, he has been also awarded with Triple Crown award.
• According to Los Angeles Times, Clayton Kershaw ranks seventh greatest figure in franchise history, and the third greatest pitcher. He is also the seventh greatest Dodger.