The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars | 171 ratings

Price: 21.83

Last update: 12-17-2024


About this item

The definitive biography of Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, examining the genesis of his brilliance, his epic quest to win the World Series, and his singular place within the evolving baseball landscape—based on exclusive interviews with Kershaw and more than 200 others.​

More than any baseball player of his generation, Clayton Kershaw has embodied the burden of athletic greatness, the prizes and perils that await those who strive for it all. He is a three-time Cy Young award winner, the first pitcher to win National League MVP since Bob Gibson, and a surefire, first-ballot Hall of Famer. Many of his peers consider him the greatest pitcher to ever climb atop a big-league mound.

In an age when baseball became more impersonal, a sport altered by adherence to algorithms and actuarial tables, Kershaw personified the game’s lingering humanity, with his joy and suffering on display each October as he chased a championship. He pitched through pain, placing his future at risk on the game’s grandest stages. He endeared himself to teammates and foes alike with his refusal to make excuses, with his willingness to shoulder the blame when he failed. And he only further impressed them when he returned, year after year, even as his body broke down from the strain of his profession. The journey captivated fans in Los Angeles and beyond, so much so that when the Dodgers finally won a title in 2020, the baseball world exulted in his triumph.

The Last of His Kind traces Kershaw’s path from a boyhood fractured by divorce to his development as one of the most-heralded pitching prospects in Texas history to his emergence in Los Angeles as the spiritual heir to Sandy Koufax. But the book also charts Kershaw’s place in baseball’s changing landscape, as his own stubbornness butted against the game’s evolution. The story of baseball in the 21st century can be told through Kershaw’s career, from his apprenticeship with icons like Joe Torre and Greg Maddux, to his wary relationship with the implementation of analytics, to his victimhood in the 2017 sign-stealing scandal at the hands of the Houston Astros. The game has changed so much during Kershaw’s illustrious career. To understand how baseball is played today, and how it got that way, you must understand the journey of Clayton Kershaw.


Top reviews from the United States

  • Nick
    5.0 out of 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Masterpiece of Sports Biography
    Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2024
    **⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A Masterpiece of Sports Biography**

    "The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness" is an absolute gem for any sports enthusiast, especially those who admire the intricacies and nuances of baseball. This book provides an in-depth and captivating portrayal of one of the greatest pitchers of our time, Clayton Kershaw.

    From the first page, the reader is drawn into Kershaw's world, a place where talent, hard work, and determination converge to create a legacy that transcends the sport. The author's meticulous research and intimate knowledge of baseball are evident, painting a vivid picture of Kershaw's journey from a promising young athlete to a legendary figure on the mound.

    What sets this book apart is its exploration of the "burden of greatness" Kershaw carries. The narrative delves deep into the psychological and emotional aspects of his career, offering a balanced perspective on the triumphs and challenges he has faced. The storytelling is compelling, with rich anecdotes and behind-the-scenes insights that bring Kershaw's persona to life in a way that feels both authentic and profound.

    The prose is elegant and engaging, making it a page-turner even for those who might not be die-hard baseball fans. The book does a remarkable job of contextualizing Kershaw's achievements within the broader history of the sport, highlighting why he is truly the last of his kind.

    Overall, "The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness" is a must-read. It's a heartfelt tribute to a sports icon, and a poignant reminder of the dedication and resilience required to reach the pinnacle of any field. This biography is a stellar addition to any bookshelf, worthy of five stars and more.
  • Lee
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book on an all-time great pitcher
    Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2024
    Clayton Kershaw is one of the greatest pitchers of all time. He is a three-time National League Cy Young Award, 2014 National League MVP, has led the National League in ERA 5 times, is a 10-time All-Star and holds the Dodgers career strikeout record.

    The author made a great point early on in the book, when talking about Kershaw’s injuries over the years, that “[s]ome of his ailments represented the natural result of a profession built around the unnatural act of repeatedly throwing a spherical object overhand” and a former teammate aid “It’s like a car crash every time he throws.” There is an irony about pitching. On the one hand, the ability for men to throw proved to be crucial in the evolution of the species, dating back to our days as hunter/gatherers. But, on the other hand, there is nothing natural about the motion of a pitcher’s arm and the strain that pitching puts on a pitcher’s body. There is no such thing as a completely healthy pitcher. Every pitcher on every team’s roster has endured enough trauma to the arm by the time he reaches the majors that any doctor can find something in the medical reports to fail him on medical grounds. It’s all a matter of how risk vs. reward that a team wants to take with that pitcher. And there are teams (one of which stands out most prominently) that has had reputations for using “medical reasons” as ways to back out of trades and free agent signings after getting buyer’s remorse before all of the paperwork was finalized to make the transaction official.

    The amount of detail and the discussion of Kershaw’s routines on days in which he pitched were among the highlights of the book.

    Kershaw insists that he has “no interest in being Sandy Koufax. And I don’t want to live up to that that.” Kershaw and Koufax don’t belong at the same level. Taking into account the offensive levels in which each of them competed, Kershaw is so far ahead of Koufax that it’s no contest. And that’s even before you factor in that Koufax had all of the mediocre years to his career before it changed (not coincidentally, but it was when the Dodgers moved into the very pitching friendly Dodger Stadium) while Kershaw has been pure dominance throughout his whole career.

    The chapters on the year leading up to Kershaw being drafted by the Dodgers was excellent. It was also very interesting to see some of the players that Kershaw’s name came up in trade rumors while he was still a prospect.

    One of the great things about baseball, and history, books is all of the great little tidbits that they always contain. One great example from this book was Kershaw turning down a $300 million contract in 2012–at a time in which they would have been the largest contract in sports history—since it would have been for 15 years. He later said, “I don’t ever want to commit to a contract that I don’t feel like I can give up my end of the bargain. And so fifteen years I just don’t feel was doable for me. It goes back to that anxiety. Having to commit to fifteen years of playing baseball? I just like that, ‘I don’t know if I’m going to be good. I don’t want to do this, if I’m not going to be good.”

    I think that definitely becomes clear throughout the book is Kershaw’s stubbornness. The Dodgers insistence that he learns a changeup and them wanting him to throw his curve more often have been consistent themes of his career. Kershaw actually reminds me of pugs. And, let me emphasize that I mean it as a compliment whenever I compare someone to a pug. Pugs are incredibly stubborn dogs. Pugs don’t have ears: they have selective listening devices. A pug understands a LOT of English, but they just prefer to only listen to what they want to hear. As I say all of the time, “A pug does not listen to what a pug doesn’t want to hear.” A pug also has to make sure that they at least give off the appearance that it’s always their idea: no, I didn’t do what you asked, I did it because it was my idea. It is clear to me that Kershaw is just like a pug: he’ll eventually decide to listen, but it will take a long time and it had to be his idea to finally get on board.

    The book did a very good job chronicling all of Kershaw’s postseason failures, leading up to their 2020 World Series title.

    After finishing this book, I then got the audiobook version, so I will be able to enjoy it again.

    I give this book an A+ and inducted it into the Hall of Fame. Amazon requires grades on a 1-5 star system. In my personal conversion system, an A+ equates to 5 stars. (A or A+: 5 stars, B+: 4 stars, B: 3 stars, C: 2 stars, D or F: 1 star).
  • Victoria Bylin
    5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding from Start to Finish
    Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2024
    If you have a baseball fan in your family, this book is the perfect gift.

    Clayton Kershaw is legendary, arguably the best pitcher of this century. What makes this biography special is its depth. It's full of insights and observations that go beyond the game of baseball to the heart of the man. At the same time, the behind-the-scenes look at the Dodgers organization is fascinating. I loved every word.
  • Tiffany S.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!
    Reviewed in the United States on August 3, 2024
    We are a household full of Dodger fans, and we live Kershaw. This book was an easy read and it was insightful and funny and a fair tribute to this awesome pitcher. The style of prose is accessible for adult and young adult readers, as is the content. Highly recommend!
  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent piece of writing
    Reviewed in the United States on June 28, 2024
    This is a terrific read, especially for anyone who is a Dodger fan and has followed Kershaw's career for any length. Even if you're just a baseball fan and not necessarily a Dodgers fan, it's still a terrific book.

    There were many things I never knew, and I'm sure that holds true for most as Kershaw is a fairly private person.

    I've always enjoyed Andy's writing going back to when he covered the team eight or nine years ago. There's never a dull moment in this book, and I found it hard to put it down each night as I stayed up well past my normal bedtime to get in a few extra pages.
  • L. Karges
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Read
    Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2024
    I love this book. Well written and very informative. I couldn't put it down.
  • Alan Cole
    5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating
    Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2024
    This was a great read for any fan of baseball, baseball history, or the Dodgers. Smooth read and didn't feel like I was chugging at any time. Page-turner. 5/5 stars
  • Marc C. Goldberg
    5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful look into success and failure
    Reviewed in the United States on July 17, 2024
    Well done, Andy. This book shows us how hard it is for the great athlete to become great. How difficult it is to make one’s work look so easy. How one’s dedication can be so draining. Both Andy and Clayton helped us learned so much about the conquest for achievement and the toll it takes to get there. Who could not root for a successful 2024 for Clayton and his terrific family. Oh, by the way, this is a wonderful book about baseball. Thanks, Andy.

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