Kindle
$17.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Hardcover
$28.80
$28.80 with 10 percent savings
List Price: $32.00

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Thursday, May 23 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35. Order within 5 hrs 31 mins
In Stock
$$28.80 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$28.80
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
30-day easy returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
30-day easy returns
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Andy McCullough
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness Hardcover – May 7, 2024

by Andy McCullough (Author)
4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 21 ratings
#1 New Release in Baseball
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$28.80","priceAmount":28.80,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"28","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"80","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"SQIEqfZH6LXBjLs8siFeyIRCcE5i0OwHKVs6YcjQx%2Fna6zREa2xjhXdj9XIOyPcBA1Y%2FUmI01SSYx2SY%2FGtAsZi8FCzJwqvc%2BDjtX4JOyMWPwuWYBu3q44XyVYOcH%2FiJA3j8oq%2BUKmtIY8v33c9w%2Bw%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

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. 

Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    400 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Hachette Books
  4. Publication date
    May 7, 2024
  5. Dimensions
    6.4 x 1.31 x 9.35 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0306832593
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0306832598
  8. See all details
Next page
Amazon First Reads | Editors' picks at exclusive prices

Frequently bought together

The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness
$28.80
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 23
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Daybreak at Chavez Ravine: Fernandomania and the Remaking of the Los Angeles Dodgers
$14.64
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 23
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Penguin Power: Dodger Blue, Hollywood Lights, and My One-in-a-Million Big League Journey
$22.99
Get it as soon as Thursday, May 23
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.

From the Publisher

Clayton Kershaw, Andy McCullough, Dodgers, MLB

Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, ESPN

Tyler Kepner, K: A History of Baseball

Dodgers Fans, Kirkus Reviews

Tim Brown, The Tao of the Backup Catcher

Publishers Weekly, portrait, athlete

Ian O'Connor, Dodgers, titan

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Reading Andy McCullough is like watching Clayton Kershaw: you sit back and savor a master of his craft. In The Last of His Kind, McCullough captures Kershaw as only he can, with graceful prose and lively details that illustrate the forces driving one of baseball’s towering figures. With rare access to the private world of a very public—but very guarded—superstar, McCullough offers a stirring portrait of what it means, what it takes, and what it costs to be an all-time great.”―Tyler Kepner, author of K: A History of Baseball in Ten Pitches and The Grandest Stage: A History of the World Series

“Andy McCullough delivers a masterclass biography of the captivating Dodgers titan. Clayton Kershaw was always chasing something out there, and The Last of His Kind takes you to the depths of his imperfect pursuit of perfection. As worthy heirs go, Kershaw is to Sandy Koufax what McCullough is to Roger Kahn. Mandatory reading for anyone who wants to know what it takes to be great.”―Ian O’Connor, author of The Captain: The Journey of Derek Jeter and Coach K: The Rise and Reign of Mike Krzyzewski

“Clayton Kershaw comes to life—the good, the great, and the hardball calamities—in this vibrant and soulful rendering by Andy McCullough. When one of the game’s most gifted writers takes on a subject as complex as Kershaw, both the man and the career, the result is an exceptional book.”―Tim Brown, author of The Tao of the Backup Catcher, Imperfect with Jim Abbott, and The Phenomenon with Rick Ankiel

“The colorful life of the best pitcher of his generation, as chronicled by the greatest pure baseball writer of his generation. This is the literary equivalent of a perfect game, filled with the beauty of a Clayton Kershaw curveball and the richness of an Andy McCullough paragraph. It will make your summer sing.”―Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times columnist and panelist on ESPN’s Around the Horn

“That’s where The Athletic’s Andy McCullough comes in. He’s been one of the best baseball writers in the country for more than a decade, a decent chunk of which he’s spent covering Kershaw and the Los Angeles Dodgers. It figured he’d eventually write a book and a damn good one at that, featuring more than 200 interviews and plenty of participation from Kershaw himself.”―D-Magazine

“The definitive biography of the iconic Dodgers left-hander, written with expertise…both informative and revelatory…. McCullough is the perfect writer for this project…. The Last of His Kind is great insight into Kershaw, and a great chronicle of the last two decades of Dodgers baseball.”―TrueBlueLA

“A great book.”―“Dodger Talk” podcast

“If you are a Clayton Kershaw fan, you will love this book. The stories will get you excited, they will make you emotional at the highest points and the lowest points as well and help you understand Clayton Kershaw."―DodgerBlue

“Athletic writer McCullough debuts with a commanding biography of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ ace pitcher…. McCullough offers a granular account of how Kershaw navigated the scouting process… traces the pitcher’s rise to the top of the pros after getting drafted by the Dodgers in 2006, and recreates the highs and lows of Kershaw’s quest for a World Series title, which he attained in 2020 after a near miss in 2017…. McCullough enriches his narrative with humanizing detail (Kershaw once rebuffed Samuel L. Jackson for upsetting his rigid game-day routine with a visit to the Dodgers locker room), offering an intimate portrait of an athlete…. fans should consider this a must.”―Publishers Weekly

“[A] vigorous account….Dodgers fans and aspiring pro pitchers alike will enjoy this report of how a master of the diamond works his magic.”―Kirkus Reviews

“[Andy McCullough] gives full attention to Kershaw’s development as a lockdown pitcher, especially his ridiculously devastating curveball and seemingly rising fastball, the bane of generations of hitters. But it's Kershaw’s humanity…that will win over pretty much any baseball fan.”

―Booklist

About the Author

Andy McCullough is a senior writer at The Athletic. He has covered Major League Baseball since 2010, previously for the Los Angeles Times, the Kansas City Star, and The Star-Ledger in Newark, N.J. His work has been honored by the Associated Press Sports Editors on seven occasions for beat writing, explanatory reporting, and feature writing. He lives in New York with his wife, the writer Stephanie Apstein. This is his first book.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Hachette Books (May 7, 2024)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 400 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0306832593
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0306832598
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.28 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.4 x 1.31 x 9.35 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 21 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Andy McCullough

Andy McCullough

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9 out of 5
21 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Lost again
5.0 out of 5 stars learned a bunch of new things
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2024
Verified Purchase
As a Dodger and Clayton Kershaw fan I thought I knew everything that was worth knowing about the future hall of fame pitcher. I was wrong. I recommend this book for the peek behind what made him great.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Maryann M. Nikander
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating book about a great player!
Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2024
Verified Purchase
Well written and riveting story of one of America’s greatest pitchers! Great idea for a gift for the baseball lover in your life, no matter what team they root for!
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Caitlin McEldrew
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommend
Reviewed in the United States on May 10, 2024
Verified Purchase
Great read for all lovers of sports epics.
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Elizabeth
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book! 5 stars
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2024
Verified Purchase
Really incredible story. Beautifully written. Highly recommend
3 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Michael Burke
4.0 out of 5 stars Winning the Big One
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2024
As a life-long Dodger fan, I was set to devour this book. Clayton Kershaw is one of the greatest pitchers ever to put on the uniform, a sure bet first round hall of famer. His career has been dedicated to one organization, and he and his wife have been pillars of the community. Their charitable work has been inspiring, including the establishment of an orphanage in Zambia. The perfect story!

Well… maybe not perfect.

Clayton has won the Cy Young award as baseball’s best pitcher an incredible three times. He won the National League MVP award in 2014, a rare accomplishment for a pitcher. He has been the dominant stopper of his era… during the regular season. Slowly but surely his reputation began tarnishing during the post-season playoffs. ‘Wonderful, but he can’t win the big one.’ Whether overworked or pitching on short rest, things fell apart and the Dodgers, superior during the season, were unable to grab the World Series trophy behind their ace. The one time they did win, in 2020, has been devalued by many as the Covid series, with an unusual atmosphere adjusted because of the playing restrictions on crowds, teams, and locations.

Sportswriter Andy McCullough does provide glimpses of Kershaw we have not seen before. There is a detailed background of the financial struggles he and his mother endured in his youth, an early factor motivating him to succeed. His intensity, particularly on game day, is well known, and although it is pointed out he was much more easy-going on days he was not starting; a grumpiness and testiness seem to be asserting itself along with struggles to overcome injuries and the aging process. I was surprised to see him say he has no interest in instructing or tutoring the young pitchers coming up… “This might be, like, harsh, but I really don’t have any interest in helping people get better,” he said. “This is probably selfish… but I don’t, like, care.”

Kershaw’s career is winding down (being the old man of 36), but it is not over yet. His last pitched game, in the 2023 National League Division Series, was the worst performance ever, allowing six runs and recording only one out. In the off season he had elbow surgery before signing a $10 million contract for 2024. At the time of this book’s publication, he is still on the injured list, hoping to make another comeback by mid-season. One more chance to grab the brass ring.

“The Last of His Kind: Clayton Kershaw and the Burden of Greatness” gives us rare glimpses behind the scenes. We see how Kershaw felt about being robbed by the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal in 2017. A strained relationship with manager Dave Roberts is touched upon and we see a mutual admiration through the years with Sandy Koufax. An enjoyable portrait of a man driven to achieve greatness and unwilling to accept anything less.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
4 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Tanner Olson
5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Book!
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2024
What a fantastic read!!! Andy McCullough did such an awesome job of capturing Clayton Kershaw’s greatness while still reminding the readers that Clayton is a human just like the rest of us.

This book was an introspective look at the life and baseball career of Clayton Kershaw. From his youth baseball days in high school, to playing for Team USA’s Junior National Team, all the way through his impressive career with the LA Dodgers.

A couple things that I really enjoyed about this book are how it dove into Clayton’s early life as a teenager to see what really motivated him to be wired the way he is. The other thing I enjoyed was the fact that they spoke about his personal life with his family and how his faith played a role in his career.

I think this would be a fantastic book for baseball and non-sports fan alike. It was a quick read that paced really well and didn’t feel drawn out.
2 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report