YOUNG VERSION
Kershaw just might surpass Koufax — so says the original, a three-time Cy Young winner
Clayton Kershaw has said he takes the long-standing comparisons between him and Sandy Koufax as ultimate compliments.
Koufax said Friday that the feeling is mutual.
“If he’s as good as I think he’s going to be, I’m honored,” Koufax said.
On his annual visit to the Dodgers’ spring-training complex, the Hall of Fame pitcher shared his admiration for Kershaw, and touched on his disappointment in the team’s current ownership situation.
Koufax, 76, rarely speaks publicly. Two years ago, he made a rare public appearance at the Nokia Theatre, telling stories alongside then-dodgers manager Joe Torre to raise money for charity.
Koufax was gracious Friday when asked about Kershaw, whom he has talked to or worked with in spring training each of the last five years. Koufax and Kershaw had spoken earlier in the day.
“I have not had a great
deal to do with his success,” Koufax said. “He has.”
Kershaw is scheduled to become the first reigning Cy Young Award winner to make an openingday start for the Dodgers since Koufax in 1964.
Koufax lives in Florida, where Dodgers games are rarely televised. And when they are shown, it is often late at night. But Koufax said he watched Kershaw pitch as frequently as he could last year.
“He’s such a good kid,” Koufax said. “You can’t not root for him.”
Asked what he saw in Kershaw, Koufax replied, “A lot of talent. A lot of competitiveness.”
Kershaw became only the third pitcher in Dodgers history to win the “triple crown” of pitching, leading the National League in wins, earned-run average and strikeouts. The last before him was Koufax, who did it in 1963, ’65 and ’66, his three Cy Young-winning seasons.
As well as Kershaw pitched last season, Koufax said he thinks the 23-year-old is capable of even more.
“He had a good year, but you can always get better,” Koufax said. “There’s nobody who doesn’t make a mistake in a game. But you get away with stuff. The better your stuff is, the more mistakes you get away with. The less mistakes you make, the better you are. He’s just going to keep getting better.”
ike Koufax, Kershaw is lefthanded. And both claim an electric fastball and classic 12-to-6 curveball.
Koufax said he could immediately tell Kershaw was special when they first met in 2008 at the Dodgers’ camp in Vero Beach.
“Before I met him, I saw him throw,” Koufax said. “His stuff, you have to be impressed.”
Soon after, Koufax said he spoke to Kershaw and learned that he had more than physical gifts.
“He’s competitive when he’s out there, he wants to win and he wants to get better,” Koufax said. “He’s not satisfied. He wants to get better.”
Koufax said he has always found Kershaw to be inquisitive.
“If we’re in the same place at the same time, he might ask me something,” Koufax said.
Kershaw has developed a slider in recent years and continues to work on a changeup.
Koufax said Kershaw’s talent has no ceiling. But he warned of other obstacles.
“The ceiling is time, health,” Koufax said. “How long you want to play, how long you’re able to play. You don’t know.”
Koufax’s career was cut short by arm trouble. He retired in 1966 at age 30. In 1972 he became the youngest player ever elected to the Hall of Fame.
Koufax said he didn’t rule out Kershaw finishing his career with more than 300 victories.
“It’s hard because guys don’t make as many starts anymore,” said Koufax, who pitched in fourman rotations, unlike today’s starters who pitch every fifth day. “Plus, how long do you want to play? You start to think about 300 [wins], it’s a lot of games over a lot of years. Is it possible? Everything’s possible.”
A late developer who didn’t make his first All-star team until he was 25, Koufax had a career record of 165-87. Kershaw, who made his first All-star team last year, has a 47-28 mark in four major league seasons.
Koufax briefly addressed the Dodgers’ ownership situation and impending sale.
“You’re sad to see it going through this kind of change,” Koufax said. “Change is inevitable but this is not the way it normally happens.”
dylan.hernandez@latimes.com