The Scar That Remains: Kershaw Calls 2017 Loss to Astros “Tainted” in Retirement Reflection.vc
Future Hall of Famer and recently retired Dodgers legend Clayton Kershaw (the main character in this reflection) has broken his silence on the one World Series that still visibly haunts him, calling the 2017 loss to the Houston Astros “tainted” as he looks back on his nearly two-decade-long career.
Kershaw’s reflection comes just weeks after he secured his second career World Series ring in his final season (2025), a fitting championship farewell that nonetheless remains shadowed by what he believes was the greatest injustice in modern baseball history.
The Haunting of 2017
Kershaw’s frustration with the 2017 World Series is not new; he has long been one of the most outspoken critics of the Astros’ sign-stealing scandal. However, in this late-career reflection, the sting of the loss is palpably raw, especially after the closure of his playing days.
- The Admission: Kershaw has previously stated he “doesn’t like coming here [Minute Maid Park]” and that the sight of the 2017 ring celebration outside the stadium doesn’t “make me feel good to talk about it.” The word “tainted” now serves as the definitive emotional summary of the loss.
- Personal Performance: The 2017 loss was arguably the nadir of Kershaw’s career, as he gave up six earned runs in a painful Game 5. For years, critics questioned his postseason mettle; the knowledge that the Astros were cheating at the time of his poor performance serves as a permanent scar, robbing him of the definitive proof he sought against his playoff detractors.
- A Stolen Legacy: For Kershaw and his 2017 teammates, the scandal represents more than just a lost title—it’s a stolen legacy. The cheating unfairly re-established the narrative around Kershaw’s postseason status, which the superstar had battled for years.
The Greatest Injustice
By framing the scandal as the “greatest injustice in modern baseball history,” Kershaw places the severity of the Astros’ actions above all other controversies, including the widespread use of performance-enhancing drugs.
The sentiment is widely shared within the Dodgers organization: what the Astros did was not just cheating, but a direct manipulation of the integrity of the competition in the highest possible leverage environment, forever altering the careers and reputations of the players they defeated.
Finding Peace in Retirement
Despite the lingering bitterness, Kershaw is retiring as a two-time World Series champion (2020 and 2025) and a first-ballot Hall of Famer (Source 2.4). He ended his storied 18-year career on the highest possible note, throwing his final pitch in a pressure-packed, bases-loaded situation in the 2025 World Series, which the Dodgers went on to win.
The championship farewell was a scripted ending he “couldn’t script any better” (Source 3.1). However, his honest reflection confirms that the emotional scar left by the “tainted” 2017 loss is one that not even a championship can completely heal.
Kershaw is now exploring a non-coaching role within the Dodgers organization. Would you like the latest details on the role Andrew Friedman offered Kershaw to keep him close to the team?
