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The Dodgers drafted 18-year old Clayton Kershaw with the 7th pick in the 2006 draft. Two years later the lefty made his Major League debut. By the time he was 23, Kershaw was on his way to his first All Star season.

In the collection is the official document from Major League Baseball that Kershaw signed to collect the first of his 8 All Star rings. The 2011 season was a magical one for the Dodger who earned pitching’s Triple Crown with 21 wins, 2.28 ERA, and 248 strikeouts. By season’s end he earned the first of his three Cy Young Awards.

During his 7-year run from 2011-2017, Kershaw was quite simply the best pitcher in the game. Each year he was in the top 5 in Cy Young balloting, winning it three times and finishing second twice more. His 2014 season was one for the ages – he went 21-3 with a 1.77 earned run average to win the National League Most Valuable Player Award.

Many believe he will be a first-ballot selection for Cooperstown.

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The Cy Young Award was originated in 1956 to recognize pitching excellence. Through 1966 it was given to the singular best twirler in the major leagues. Then in 1967, it was expanded to honor a pitcher in each league.

Through the award’s first 70 years 22 pitchers earned multiple nods. Half of them picked up the honor a third time.

Clayton Kershaw is one of the 11 to capture the Cy at least three times. Baseball writers bestowed it to the Dodger ace three times in four years starting in 2011. During his run of dominance, Kershaw claimed 72 victories against 26 losses. He led the NL in ERA each of the four years, twice posting sub-2.00 campaigns. In 2014 his 21-3 record and 1.77 ERA also earned him the Most Valuable Player Award.

Roger Clemens is the most-decorated recipient with 7 Cy Young plaques. Left-hander Randy Johnson is next with 5 nods. A pair of Cooperstown men, Steve Carlton and Greg Maddux won four each. Along with Kersh, Pedro Martinez, Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Jim Palmer, Tom Seaver, and Sandy Koufax have three each.

Shown here is a 1961 Topps card autographed by Koufax and LA teammate Johnny Podres. The Left Arm of God earned his trio of Cy Young Award in his final four years with the Dodgers from 1963-1966. Koufax was baseball’s first three-time Cy Young winner. He and Kershaw are the only hurlers to claim the honor three times with the Dodgers.

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The Dodgers are the most pitching-rich franchise in baseball history. The team boasts a major league record 12 Cy Youngs and routinely churns out top-flight hurlers.

A glance at the Dodger all-time leaderboard shows Clayton Kershaw atop the franchise leaderboard in pitcher’s WAR. He snatched Don Sutton’s career Dodger strikeout record in April of 2022. Kershaw’s 210 wins with the team is surpassed only Sutton’s 233.

Sutton pitched for the Dodgers from 1966 until 1980 when he left for Houston via free-agency. He later pitched for Milwaukee, Oakland, and the Angels before returning to Los Angeles his final season of 1988.

Shown here is a handwritten letter from Sutton. It reads, “Although I played for a few teams, I’m very proud it’s a Dodger cap in Cooperstown.