Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw wins National League MVP Award
By Jake Misener
Just 24 hours after taking home the National League Cy Young Award, Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw edged Miami Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton to become the first pitcher to win the league MVP Award since Detroit Tigers’ right-hander Justin Verlander in 2011.
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Despite missing the season’s first month, the southpaw, who signed a seven-year, $215 million deal with the Dodgers prior to the 2014 campaign, went on to post a 21-3 record while winning his fourth-consecutive ERA title with a sterling 1.77 mark. He received 18 first-place votes (355 total points), topping Stanton (eight first-place votes, 298 total points) and Andrew McCutchen of the Pittsburgh Pirates, who received just four first-place votes and 271 points.
The last Dodgers player to win the MVP award was Kirk Gibson in 1988 and for much of the season, Kershaw led the pack in terms of likely recipients. Once again, however, his team failed to reach the World Series – which has been oft-stated as a top goal for the 26-year-old ace.
"“I never expected to win … never in a million years did I think I’d win the Cy Young and MVP,” he said afterward. “It’s an amazing night for me. Awards aren’t why we play the game, but I don’t take it lightly. When fans chant that [MVP] stuff, it’s an amazing feeling. I remember a few times pitching and fans at Dodger Stadium would chant M-V-P, that’s unbelievable. It really is chilling. I don’t know if I’ll ever get used to that.”"
Since 2011, Kershaw, who has won three Cy Young Awards in the last four seasons, has went 72-26, amassing just under 900 innings of work during that stretch while posting a 2.10 ERA. He has emerged in recent years as the face of the franchise, despite the influx of high-profile talent since the new ownership group took control of the team.
"“You just try to celebrate the accomplishments,” he said. “A lot of teammates told me over their careers, when you win something — a division, the World Series, anything — you celebrate it. This game is hard. That’s what I’m doing tonight with family and friends, with people who care about me the most. It doesn’t take the sting away from what happened in the playoffs, but you can’t lose the opportunity to celebrate — it might never happen again.”"