Off into the sunset

Though Major League Baseball has never had a shortage of Christian ballplayers, Clayton Kershaw stood out from the rest.

Not just because the ace pitcher, who spent his entire 18-year career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, boasts Hall-of-Fame credentials—though that’s certainly part of the reason. In post-game interviews, he did much more than thank God for his success on the field. He used the platform his success created to advance the gospel and take a stand for his faith when the situation called for it.

Kershaw announced on Sept. 18 that he’ll be retiring after the season. The left-hander stunned fans with the news before pitching 4 1/3 innings against the San Francisco Giants—Dodgers fans’ most hated rival—in what will be his final regular-season home game.

Kershaw’s final season isn’t over yet: The Dodgers won the National League West division title for the 12th time in 13 years and are competing in the playoffs. Kershaw will factor heavily into the Dodgers’ efforts to repeat as the World Series champion for the first time in team history.

The native Texan won’t participate in one of those retirement tours the best-of-the-best pro athletes typically receive when they’re on the way out of their sports. The ones where the athletes make one last circuit of their leagues’ venues, let opposing teams shower them with lavish gifts, and bask in the glow of respect from fans who once rooted hard against them but can’t deny their greatness.

Having observed his career from a distance, though, I don’t think Kershaw wanted that. Throughout his tenure in MLB, the Dodgers’ all-time strikeout leader exuded humility, quietly dominating on the mound and letting his numbers and accolades testify to his greatness.

His accomplishments are indeed quite impressive: As of this writing, Kershaw’s career earned run average (ERA) was 2.54—in other words, he was downright stingy when it came to letting opponents score. He’ll likely be one of the last pitchers to reach 200 wins and 3,000 strikeouts in his career, especially since few major league hurlers throw much beyond the sixth inning nowadays. That’s not to mention Kershaw’s 11 All-Star selections, three Cy Young Awards, 2014 National League Most Valuable Player award, and two World Series rings—counting the COVID-abbreviated 2020 season—in four appearances.

Even in the twilight of his career, Kershaw performed reliably: In a season in which injuries hammered the Dodgers’ pitching rotation, the bearded, long-haired southpaw went 10-2 with a respectable 3.53 ERA in his first 20 starts.

“My last thing is my favorite Bible verse: ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as you’re working for the Lord, not for men,’” Kershaw told reporters at the press conference where he announced his retirement. “That’s Colossians (3:23). That’s what I’ve tried to do—just work at it. Just work at it, and love it.”

Kershaw certainly did that. But it isn’t the only thing that made him a shining example for other Christian ballplayers to follow.

In an era where all but one MLB team—Kershaw’s hometown Texas Rangers—hosted Pride nights celebrating LGBTQ “inclusion,” Kershaw stood up to remind baseball that Christians should be included, too. He wasn’t the only player to do so, but he was easily the most prominent.

Sometimes, that meant publicly pushing back against his employer: In 2023, the Dodgers honored the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, an LGBTQ group whose members dress like nuns and openly mock Christian values, with a Community Hero Award. Kershaw denounced the decision, declaring, “I just don’t think that, no matter what religion you are, you should make fun of somebody’s religion.” At Kershaw’s urging, the Dodgers hosted a Faith and Family Day later that season. (Sadly, they haven’t held one since.)

And earlier this year, at the Dodgers’ Pride Night in June, Kershaw scrawled “Genesis 9:12-16” in white ink to the right of the rainbow-colored version of the Dodgers’ “LA” logo on his cap. He did it to remind fans of what the rainbow truly stands for. Kershaw was truly “wise as serpents, but harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16). In the process—perhaps due to his likability—he avoided the backlash many Christian athletes experience when they refuse to celebrate what the Bible condemns.

Off the field, Kershaw used his MLB earnings to support missions work in Africa and transform at-risk children and communities through his charity, Kershaw’s Challenge.

Even in retirement, Kershaw is modeling Christian principles: His focus will be on being a more present father to his five kids—counting the baby he and his wife Ellen now eagerly expect.

“I think I’m gonna have enough kids to keep me busy for a while,” he told reporters. “I’m excited to not miss another game and watch all the baseball, volleyball, dance, soccer, and other sports that they play. … I’m gonna do that for a while, for sure.”

For every ballplayer, there comes a time to move on to his next chapter. Kershaw’s time is now. Though there will never be another Kershaw, I pray another Christian ballplayer in MLB soon follows his example in boldness and humility.